The Convention on Cluster Munitions

The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international instrument that bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of the kind of weapon knows as “cluster”. This kind of weapon consists of containers or packages holding sub-munition that when exploding may cause indiscriminate damage. In some cases those sub munitions remain unexploded on the ground and become a threat to the civil population.

The process that led to the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions or Oslo Process was the result of the cooperation between Governments, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other groups representing civil society. The Convention was negotiated and adopted in the Dublin Diplomatic Conference of the 30th May 2008, and was opened for signature in December 2008.

The States Parties to the Convention commit, among another things, to destroy all the existing cluster munitions stockpiles, as soon as possible, but not later than eight years after the entry into force of the Convention in each State; to clear and destroy all the residues of cluster munitions in a term of ten years and to provide assistance to the countries affected by cluster munitions.

Colombia and the Cluster Munition Convention

Colombia subscribed this instrument in 2008. A year later and before the entry into force of the Convention for the country, Colombia had already fulfilled its obligation of eliminating all stockpiles of this kind of weapon. With this action Colombia reaffirmed that this kind of weapon is obsolete for the defense and security of the country and was a pioneer in fulfilling multilateral obligations proscribing it.

The Bill to ratify this instrument domestically went through four debates in Congress and was approved on 15th November 2012. The President sanctioned the Bill into Law 1604 on 21st December 2012.

By its Sentence C-910, the Constitutional Court examined and declared in accordance with the Colombian Constitution Law 1604, on 3rd December 2013. Currently, the last portion of the domestic ratification process is being conducted, including the update of domestic legislation for the adequate and full  implementation of  the Convention´s obligations, and inter-agency consultations, prior to the deposit of the instrument with the Secretary General.

• PDF (Spanish): Statement by the Permanent Representative of Colombia in Geneva at the Inter-sessional Meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, 9/04/14.
• PDF (Spanish): Statement by Colombia on the segment on Universalization at the Inter-sessional Meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, 7/04/14.