våpenkonvensjonen

The Convention on Cluster Munitions, often referred to as the våpenkonvensjonen in Norwegian, is an international agreement that prohibits the use, production, transfer, and storage of cluster munitions. These weapons are characterized by their ability to release a large number of smaller submunitions, or "bomblets," over a wide area. The indiscriminate nature of cluster munitions and the significant risk they pose to civilians, both during conflict and long after, are primary concerns leading to their prohibition.

The convention was adopted in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008 and opened for signature in Oslo, Norway, in December 2008. It entered into force on August 1, 2010. States parties to the convention commit to never use, develop, produce, acquire, retain, or transfer cluster munitions, and to destroy any stockpiles they possess. The convention also obliges states to provide assistance to victims of cluster munitions and to clear contaminated areas.

As of [current year], a significant number of states have ratified or acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. However, some states that possess large stockpiles or are major producers of cluster munitions are not party to the convention, presenting ongoing challenges to its universal implementation. Despite these challenges, the convention has had a substantial impact in stigmatizing the use of these weapons and fostering international cooperation towards their elimination.