Towards an International
Arms Trade Treaty
There is an urgent need for an international arms trade treaty (ATT)
that sets out common core principles to regulate and control international
transfers of arms. Oxfam, Amnesty International and IANSA have therefore
launched a campaign for a treaty based on the model convention that was
elaborated by the Commission of Nobel Peace Laureates. Central to this
treaty is that states will prevent arms transfer arms that would violate
their obligations under international law, such as binding arms embargoes.
States would also prevent arms transfers if the weapons would be used
in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian
law, or would diversely affect sustainable development. The treaty would
further include a commitment by states to much greater transparency on
their arms transfers.
Further useful websites
Amnesty
Oxfam
Stop the Terror Trade
Arias
Foundation
Available materials
“ No
More Arms for Atrocities”, July 2003
“
Terror Trade
Times No 4”, Amnesty International, May 2003 (Link to Document)
ECOWAS Moratorium on Light Weapons
In October 1998, the states member to the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) declared a three year Moratorium on Importation,
Exportation and Manufacture of Light Weapons in West Africa. This moratorium
has since been extended for another three years.
IANSA
page on Moratorium
NISAT Themes: The West
African Arms Moratorium
EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports
Adopted in June 1998, the politically-binding European Union (EU) Code
of Conduct on Arms Exports sets out certain criteria for member states
to uphold in their arms transfers, as well as information sharing mechanisms.
These aim to promote better co-operation between member states in their
goal to prevent the export of military equipment which might be used
for internal repression or international aggression or contribute to
regional instability.
Text
of EU Code of Conduct
Text (from
SIPRI)
NISAT Themes: The European
Union and Small Arms
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