The Arms Trade Treaty

Every day thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of the poorly regulated global arms trade. Conventional weapons facilitate these abuses, and in response IANSA, as part of the Control Arms alliance, is calling for a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty (ATT): a global, legally binding agreement that will better control irresponsible international transfers of conventional weapons and munitions.

The ATT will be negotiated in July 2012 and IANSA aims to ensure that it has the means to reduce levels of gun violence and decrease the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

This can be achieved by the inclusion of strong and relevant provisions in the Treaty text, and including small arms and light weapons and related ammunition within the scope of the Treaty. It is also essential that measures to prevent gender based violence and sexual violence against women are part of the ATT. To protect women's rights, the relevant binding international instruments covering gender based violence, including rape and sexual violence, must be applied in arms transfer decisions. To read more click here.

To see a more detailed description of how SALW and related ammunition should be included in the ATT click here.

 

Latest

New report from Oxfam highlights irresponsible arms transfers

More than $2.2bn worth of arms and ammunition have been imported since 2000 to countries operating under arms embargoes, according to the new report “The Devil is in the Detail”  by Oxfam International.

Uganda: 300,000 small arms smuggled into East Africa in the past 10 years

A total of 300,000 small arms have been smuggled into Uganda and other East African Community countries over the last 10 years, according to the East Africa Action Network on Small Arms (EAANSA). In a recent press conference, they called on governments of the East African Community to support a strong ATT which is legally binding and includes criteria that can help prevent arms transfers where there is a substantial risk that they will be used to violate international human rights, humanitarian law or undermine development.

Nigeria: West African countries gather in Nigeria to discuss ATT

On April 26-27, representatives of civil society and the Control Arms coalition met with 15 member states from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria. Discussions focused on strengthening the ECOWAS common position on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) ahead of the final ATT negotiations in July.

Communiqué de presse: Réduire le coût humain des transferts d’armes par un décret wallon solide et rigoureux

Les associations et organisations belges francophones membres du RAIAL (Réseau d’Action international sur les Armes Légères) ont adressé aujourd’hui aux membres du Comité ministériel wallon restreint, aux parlementaires wallons et aux présidents de partis

IANSA members react to the conviction of Charles Taylor

Thanks to Kerian N. Pelenah of Liberians United to Expose Hidden Weapons for sharing this statement on the conviction of former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Philippines: IANSA members meet government to discuss the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

On 23 April, members of the Philippine Action Network to Control Arms (PhilANCA) met with government agencies for a consultation on the Philippines’ position on the ATT.

Article on the Dominican Republic and the ATT

A recent article by Orlidy Inoa of the Caribbean Institute for the Rule of Law (ICED), Dominican Republic, on the ATT has been published in the online publication Acento. Read it here.

Accreditation/Registration for the ATT Diplomatic Conference 2-27 July 2012

There are two stages involved in accrediting your NGO, and registering participants to attend the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Diplomatic Conference, UN Headquarters in New York, 2-27 July 2012.

Control Arms statement on the sentencing on alleged arms broker Viktor Bout

On 5 April, alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout was sentenced to 25 years in prison in a US Court.

Pax Christi resource pack on the ATT

Pax Christi International has joined the global campaign for a strong ATT with a new resource pack providing a faith and ethics based analysis of the arms trade.

New Women’s Lexis

IANSA women, the Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), have released the latest edition of their publication Women’s Lexis.

Mali: IANSA members host press conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

On 20 March, IANSA members hosted a press conference in Bamako, Mali, on the campaign for a strong Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to help prevent serious human rights abuses and atrocities committed with small arms.

New report from GRIP on ammunition in the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and Africa

IANSA member Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security (GRIP) have released a new report on ‘Ammunition controls, the ATT, and Africa: Challenges, requirements, and scope for action’.

Australia: Pacific states meet to develop common position on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

From 29 February – 2 March, Pacific states are meeting for a Regional Small Arms and Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Workshop in Brisbane, Australia.

IANSA woman interviewed on the ATT

An interview about why small arms must be included in the ATT with IANSA Women’s Network Coordinator Sarah Masters has been published in Pax, a Swedish magazine

Control Arms in MENA on Facebook

Members of the Control Arms coalition in the Middle East and North Africa have launched a new Facebook page on the Arms Trade Treaty.

IANSA members campaign for a strong ATT

During the ATT PrepCom, IANSA members were active lobbying, campaigning and hosting side events.

UN: Optimism as Preparatory Committee on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) ends

On 17 February, the fourth ATT Preparatory Committee ended after states finally agreed on rules of procedure for the final negotiations in July this year.

UK: Former IANSA Board member and gun control campaigner Mick North calls for a strong Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

Former IANSA Board member Dr Mick North, who lost his 5-year old daughter in the 1996 Dunblane primary school shooting, is calling on the UK government to support a strong ATT that can help prevent gun violence.

UN: IANSA at the 4th Preparatory Committee on the ATT

From 13–17 February, IANSA staff and members are in New York to follow the fourth Preparatory Committee on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT PrepCom) at UN headquarters in New York.

New report on monitoring and reporting practices in global arms transfers

The new report 'Transparency and accountability: monitoring and reporting methods under an Arms Trade Treaty' has been released by TransArms Research and the International Peace Information Service (IPIS).

Summaries from the Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee 13-17 February 2012

This week, UN member states are gathering in New York for the fourth session of preparatory committee (PrepCom) meetings on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

New IANSA Womens Network position paper on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

The IANSA Women's Network has released its latest position paper, ‘The Arms Trade Treaty: An Important Opportunity to Prevent Gender Based Violence at Gunpoint’

Control Arms nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Control Arms has been nominated for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize by the International Peace Bureau (IPB). Control Arms is a global civil society alliance launched jointly in 2003 by IANSA, Amnesty International and Oxfam to advocate for a strong Arms Trade Treaty.

Control Arms: Nearly 150 Members of Parliament sign declaration on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

Nearly 150 Members of Parliament worldwide have signed the Parliamentarian Declaration on the Arms Trade Treaty. According to the Control Arms Secretariat, “Support from parliamentarians is critical to our long-term success

UK campaigners call on politicians for commitment to the Arms Trade Treaty

The UK section of Amnesty International is calling on leaders of the major political parties in the UK to commit to supporting a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty.

Control Arms launches ‘Speak Out’ Campaign

So far, 1080 people have added their voice to the ‘Speak Out’ Campaign, launched by Control Arms on 14 December. It aims to mobilise support for a ‘Bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty’

Blog on the Arms Trade Treaty and UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA)

Katherine Prizeman elaborates on the differences and common features of the anticipated Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA) in a blog article for  Global Action to Prevent War.

Pakistan: IANSA member mobilises for arms control in North-West border regions

In Pakistan, IANSA member Alliance for Peace & Disability Rights (APDR) and SPRING International have organised a series of events to raise awareness and mobilise around arms control in schools and local communities in conflict affected areas in the Swat District.

New Amnesty International report: US exported weapons to Egypt, despite killing of protesters

The US has repeatedly transferred arms to Egypt, including small arms and ammunition, despite evidence of Egyptian security forces using excessive force against protesters.