The issue of transparency and whether States should make their annual reports about arms transfers public has been dominating the first Conference of States Parties.
The arms trade is currently shrouded in secrecy, which means weapons are too easily falling into the hands of those who abuse human rights abuse and diverted into the hands of criminal gangs. Under the Arms Trade Treaty, States Parties will be expected to submit annual reports about all arms imports and exports.
Control Arms campaigners highlighted their call for those reports to be made public by staging a campaign action outside the Moon Palace Convention Centre, where CSP2015 is taking place.
Diplomats from states including the UK, U.S, Norway, Costa Rica, New Zealand and many others joined the campaigners and showed their support for full and public reporting.
Roy Isbister of Saferworld said:
“The issue of how open and detailed reporting will be is critical to the success of the Treaty. States have been unaccountable for too long.”