The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) – Oslo Convention – prohibits the use, possession, production and transfer of cluster munitions and requires the destruction of existing stocks. Adopted on 30 May 2008 during a Diplomatic Conference held in Dublin, it was the culmination of a process begun in Oslo in February 2007, following the failure of the negotiations under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Entered into force on 1 August 2010, the CCM has been ratified by 111 States and signed by 12, not including some of the leading manufacturers and users of cluster munitions: Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Russian Federation and United States.
Both in its content and negotiating process, the Oslo Convention drew heavily from the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines. Its provisions relate to five main thematic areas: clearance and risk education; assistance to victims; destruction of stockpiles; cooperation and international assistance; and transparency measures. Some of the main obligations taken on by States Parties to the Convention include:
- clearance of contaminated areas and awareness-raising among the civilian populations living in their proximity;
- assistance to victims, including the provision of medical care and rehabilitation services, psychological support, social services and support for reintegration;
- destruction of existing stockpiles, within eight years from entry into force of the Convention for the concerned State Party;
- provision of technical, material or financial assistance to other State Parties to facilitate CCM implementation;
- submission of periodic reports with data concerning, inter alia, national legislative or administrative measure to implement the Convention; number and types of stocked munitions in deposits; measures relating to victim assistance; data on contaminated areas and measures relating to clearance.
States Parties assess implementation of the Convention and decide on further action during annual Meetings of the States Parties and five-yearly Review Conferences.
The second Review Conference, held in September 2021 under Swiss presidency, marked a significant step in reaffirming the pillars of the Convention. Alongside what is known as the Lausanne Declaration, titled “Protecting lives, empowering victims, enabling development,” the Conference allowed States Parties to formulate a five-year Action Plan (2021-2026) to achieve substantial and sustainable progress towards the full implementation of the Convention. The Plan outlined 50 actions, accompanied by specific indicators, addressing the following overarching objectives: universalization, destruction of arsenals, analysis and clearance, risk education, victim assistance, international cooperation, transparency, national implementation, and measures to ensure compliance with the Convention.
From September 10 to 13 September 2024, the Twelth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) took place. The Meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress made and challenges faced by States Parties in terms of universalization, destruction of stocks, clearance, international cooperation, and victim assistance. It also offered a platform for civil society to express expectations and concerns regarding the continued use of cluster munitions in various geographical areas (Libya, Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen).
Universalization remains a priority for the CCM, and in 2023, it welcomed new accessions from Nigeria and South Sudan. Notably, among European countries, Greece, Finland, and Poland did not join the Convention. Among European countries, Greece, Finland and Poland failed to join and Lithuania withdrew in July 2024.
Regarding the technical aspects of the Convention, Italy has been, together with Norway, co-coordinator for demining and risk education for the period 2023-2025. This is a commitment that in 2024 saw us involved with the analysis and evaluation of Art. IV extension requests presented by Chad, Germany and Laos, which requested an extension for the completion of the obligations of destruction of cluster munition remenants in contaminated national areas. In this role of co-coordinator, we also presented a working document dedicated to risk education (EORE) in the framework of the CCM, in which we presented the importance of integrating these aspects into humanitarian demining programs and recommended the appointment of a dedicated coordinator and the organization of a session fully focused on EORE during the next Meetings of the States Parties in 2025.
Italy’s participation in the CCM
Italy, which participated in the Oslo process from the outset and ratified the Convention in September 2011, considers the CCM as a key step towards increased international security not only for its role in promoting disarmament, but also for its contribution to strengthening international humanitarian law. As a set of measures that oblige State Parties to identify and eliminate unexploded munitions, that pose a serious threat even in post-conflict situations, the Convention also provides additional measures for the protection of human rights and the promotion of development.
For Italy, universalization of the Convention is a priority, in particular its ratification or accession by the major producers and possessors of cluster munitions. Universal adherence to this instrument is even more urgent and necessary in the light of the alleged use of these weapons in many conflict areas.
Italy also attaches primary value to cooperation and international assistance, which are necessary for the full implementation of the Convention. In recent years, it has invested significantly in assistance programmes focusing in particular on clearance of contaminated territories, stockpile destruction and victim assistance. Some of the countries that have received Italian support in the framework of humanitarian demining include Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya and Palestine. In the humanitarian field, finally, the protection of vulnerable groups in conflict and emergency situations is another priority for our institutions.
In terms of national implementation Italy, which has never produced cluster munitions, completed the destruction of its cluster munition stocks in 2015, almost five years ahead of the deadline as set out in Art. III of the Convention.
Since September 2023, Italy is co-coordinator for clearance and risk reduction (Art. IV).
Main Statements
Twelfth Meeting of the States Parties (Geneva, 10-13 September 2024):
Amb. Leonardo Bencini:
Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties (Geneva, 11-14 September 2023):
Amb. Leonardo Bencini:
Tenth Meeting of the States Parties (Geneva, 30 August – 2 September 2022):
Couns. Tancredi Francese:
Documents and Resources
Text of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Second Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
