 Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, joined the Control Arms campaign at a press conference in New York, to call for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty, which would ban arms transfers likely to contribute to human rights violations, fuel conflict, or undermine development.
Control Arms and the co-authors of the Arms Trade Treaty resolution (voted on at the UN last year), held two events in New York on 23 April to mark the Global Day of Action, and to encourage all States to submit to the UN Secretary Generals's consultation on the ATT.
The day began with a press conference with speeches from Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Honorary President of Oxfam International, the Ambassadors of Costa Rica, Kenya, Finland and the UK, Joseph Dube of Control Arms, and a special video message from Hollywood actress Dame Helen Mirren, direct to States. All stressed the importance of the Arms Trade Treaty, and the need for it to be based on human rights, international humanitiarian law and sustainable development. Media turn out was high, and articles have appeared across the world from Japan to Senegal.
At lunchtime, Control Arms and the co-authors held a States' Consultation. All seven co-authors presented their views on the ATT to an audience of over 70 states. Control Arms representatives gave the views of civil society, and reported back on the People's Consultations that have been taking place across the world.
Webcast
 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, calls for an Arms Trade Treaty. Read the article here [PDF]
Read their letter here. [PDF] This letter was published in the Guardian newspaper in the UK, and was also sent to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
Activists across four continents have organised People's Consultation activities to mark the Control Arms Global Day of Action. In Canada, the report from the People's Consultations will be delivered to journalists; the Regional Director of the National Human Rights Commission in Nepal, Mr. Suwarna Karmacharya will give a lecture on the ATT; campaigners in South Africa will handover the results of the People's Consultation to government representatives, and in Brazil, Sou da Paz will release opinion polls showing that most Brazilians want tougher controls on the international arms trade. Other countries, including DRC, Guyana, Mali, India, Peru and Tanzania will take part in the day of action.
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