Control Arms welcomes the entry into force of Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on 24 December. The rapidity with which this has occurred – only 21 months since the Treaty opened for signature – demonstrates the global political momentum and importance of this groundbreaking new instrument. The ATT is now international law, and 2015 heralds the chance for States to transform the way the arms trade operates, and help reduce armed violence and conflict.
Control Arms Director Anna Macdonald said:
“Campaigners around the world have been fighting pushing for years for this to make this moment happen. This treaty is not just a piece of paper. If robustly implemented, we know it has the potential to save many lives and protect vulnerable civilians around the world.
The ATT will transform the way arms and ammunitions are traded around the world meaning there can be no doubt about who will be their end-user. It will no longer be acceptable to turn a blind eye and look the other way when arms are being transferred into the hands of regimes that will use them to devastate people’s lives and violate human rights.”
Several states have rushed to sign and ratify the treaty over the last two weeks. As of 24 December, there are a total number of 130 signatures and 61 ratifications. Ratifiers include many large arms exporters have ratified (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK). Many countries who are heavily affected by armed violence and conflict have also joined such as as Liberia and Mali. Many of these countries played a leading role in the negotiations and pushed for strong Treaty language. This is an encouraging sign for the establishment of a strong global norm for the Treaty, which will be important in ensuring that the ATT has impact.
Kennedy Mabasa, a campaigner from South Africa, the most recent country to ratify said:
“African campaigners have waited a long time for this moment. We have experienced first hand the devastation of an arms trade that is out of control, and we owe it now to the survivors of these weapons that we prevent future horrors and pains.”
With this milestone accomplished, work now focuses on Treaty implementation – especially the run up to the first Conference of States Parties (CSP). Two informal preparatory meetings have already been held to discuss the (CSP) and formal Preparatory meetings will now commence, starting in Trinidad and Tobago in February.
Control Arms calls on all States who have not yet done so to join the Treaty, and on existing signatories and ratifiers to ensure it robustly implemented immediately.
