On 3 December 2008, the Convention on Cluster Munitions (hereinafter the Convention), a legally binding instrument on cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians, was signed by 94 states in Oslo. The Convention is the result of a Norwegian initiative of November 2006 which, ultimately led to negotiations conducted in Dublin from 18-30 May 2008 between 111 states. Below, a short overview will be given with regard to the process that led to the Convention, followed by a short explanation of the most relevant Articles of the Convention and the ideas behind it. Finally, a determination will be given with regard to the future role of the Convention in the field of international humanitarian law.
