As part of the “100 Days of Speaking Out!”, a countdown to the treaty negotiations, Control Arms will regularly feature stories and profiles of different people who support a bulletproof ATT.
The ATT Legal Response Network is an international network of over 70 pro-bono lawyers fielding questions from states and civil society about the Arms Trade Treaty. In this Daily Feature, a member of the network reflects on the value of the Treaty and its potential for saving lives.
Urim Lekaj is a Republic of Kosovo native and a Fordham Law School graduate. He holds an LL.M. degree in International Business and Trade Law and is extremely excited and proud to work with Arms Trade Treaty Legal Response Network.
“The importance of this treaty cannot be overestimated. I am honored to be a part of a team to help achieve the important goal of an international treaty that will regulate the transfer of weapons into conflict areas and help save thousands of lives lost each and every year. Further, this treaty will help prevent violations of human rights and stop the spreading of poverty.
Having been born and raised in a region that has seen its share of destruction in recent years due to wars, I strongly believe that the sovereign nations of the world must unite behind this goal and support a treaty that will regulate the misuse of arms that cause a loss of lives and contribute toward instability in fragile regions. This is an issue that has real and practical implications on people’s lives, especially in underdeveloped regions of the world. It requires immediate international attention and unified action.”
Read a recent paper by the Network about how an ATT would stop the flow of weapons into Syria.
