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Oslo process
:: DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE OSLO PROCESS
The Oslo process is the generic name given to the process that resulted in the Convention on Cluster Munitions in May 2008. The name stems from the first global conference on cluster munitions, which took place in Oslo, Norway on 22 – 23 February 2007.
There, 46 of the 49 participating states agreed on a political commitment to establish a new legally binding instrument prohibiting cluster munitions before the end of 2008. Known as the Oslo Declaration, it became the foundational document of the process. Civil society, represented by the global Cluster Munition Coalition, United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, gave the Oslo Declaration their full support. The Oslo process unfolded over the coming 18 months. A series of global conferences were held for participants to discuss draft versions of the new Convention (the Discussion Texts). These conferences took place in Lima, Vienna and Wellington prior to the final diplomatic negotiations in Dublin. Moreover, the global conferences were supported by a series of regional and thematic meetings. These meetings, held in Pnomh Penh, San Jose, Belgrade, Brussels and Livingstone, addressed particular aspects of the cluster munitions issue and provided input to the discussions at the global conferences.
The Wellington Conference resulted in the Wellington Declaration, a political commitment for States to go to Dublin and contribute there to the final negotiations. Indeed, support of the Wellington Declaration was a requirement for participation in Dublin. On 30 May 2008, 107 participating states at the Dublin Conference agreed to adopt the text of the new Convention on Cluster Munitions. Thus, the Oslo process succeeded in developing a new instrument that would prohibit cluster munitions causing unacceptable harm to civilians and that would also provide support for victims and affected communities. All States are invited to attend the signing conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008.
A key feature of the Oslo process was the active participation in discussions and final negotiations of civil society, represented by the Cluster Munition Coalition, UN organisations, such as the UN Development Programme, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Oslo process was facilitated by a group of States known as the Core Group: Austria, the Holy See, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway and Peru.
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