The Oslo Process on Cluster Munitions
- What is the Oslo Process?
- Where does the Wellington Conference fit in the Oslo Process?
- Who will attend the Wellington conference?
- What will the Wellington Conference achieve?
- What's the next step in the Oslo Process?
What is the Oslo Process?
The Oslo Process formally began in February 2007 in Oslo, Norway. Forty-six countries at that Conference, including New Zealand, signed the "Oslo Declaration", which committed States to conclude a new international treaty on cluster munitions by 2008.
The objectives of the new treaty were outlined in Oslo as: the prohibition of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians; and the establishment of a framework for co-operation and assistance to survivors, clearance of land contaminated by cluster munition remnants and the destruction of stockpiles.
Two further Conferences of the Oslo Process have been held since then in Lima, in May, and in Vienna, in December, together with important regional meetings in Costa Rica, Serbia, and Belgium. By the Vienna Conference, 138 countries were participating.
Where does the Wellington Conference fit in the Oslo Process?
New Zealand is hosting the next Conference of the Oslo Process, in Wellington from 18-22 February. This is a major disarmament priority for the government in 2008. Our offer to host reflects our role as a member of the core group of countries leading the Oslo Process (other members are Norway, Austria, Peru, Mexico, Ireland and the Holy See). In that process, New Zealand has been co-chairing discussions on the key areas of definitions and scope of the new treaty.
The meeting will be opened by the New Zealand Disarmament and Arms Control Minister, Phil Goff. The Chair of the meeting will be New Zealand's Ambassador for Disarmament, Don Mackay, who is based at the United Nations in Geneva.
Who will attend the Wellington conference?
New Zealand's delegation at the Wellington Conference will be made up of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Defence Force, Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). [external links]
A wide range of countries are invited to participate in the Wellington Conference, including producers and users of cluster munitions, as well as cluster munition affected countries and non-governmental organisations.
The UN plays a key role in dealing with the humanitarian harm caused by cluster munitions, and will be represented by a number of agencies in Wellington.
Civil society is a vital partner in the Oslo Process. The Cluster Munition Coalition represents around 200 non-governmental organisations from 50 countries with an active interest in the cluster munitions issue. The New Zealand chapter of the CMC, the Cluster Munition Coalition Aotearoa/New Zealand, is co-ordinating non-governmental activities for the Wellington Conference with representatives from around the world.
What will the Wellington Conference achieve?
The Wellington meeting will play a pivotal role in narrowing key issues in advance of the Diplomatic Conference in Dublin which will finalise and adopt the new Convention. States will also need to take a decision, in Wellington, to move to the final stages of the negotiation at Dublin. This is intended to be by way of a "Wellington Declaration", which will provide the "bridge" through to Dublin and the final outcome.
What's the next step in the Oslo Process?
Participating states will meet again in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008 at a full diplomatic negotiating conference. The Dublin Conference will conclude negotiations on the new treaty and adopt it.
