An Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is necessary to better regulate the international flow of conventional arms which currently lacks transparency and accountability. An effective ATT should establish common international standards for authorising international transfers of conventional arms, based on already existing commitments under international law including international human rights and humanitarian law.
Arms Trade Treaty Resolution
In 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted a Resolution to start work on an ATT. This successful result is the culmination of work by governments, organisations and individual campaigners from around the world, including the Control Arms campaign and more than one million people who joined its Million Faces Petition. Secetary General's Consultation
After the Resolution was adopted by the General Assembly, the UN Secretary General collected Member States views on the feasibility, scope, and parameters of a legally binding treaty on international transfers of conventional arms.You can view the state's submissions here. Civil Society held a parallel process called the People's Consultation on the ATT. Group of Governmental Experts
A Group of Government Experts (GGE) has been appointed to further examine the issue and report back to the General Assembly in 2008. The GGE will meet at UN Headquarters in NY on the following dates:
First session: 11 - 15 February 2008
Second session: 12 -16 May 2008
Third session: 28 July - 8 August 2008
More information
Arms Trade Treaty resolution UN General Assembly, December 2006 People's Consultation on an ATT UN Arms Embargoes: An overview of the last 10 years |
