Campaigners here at the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Conference are gearing up for a huge day following the release of a draft of the treaty text on Wednesday night. While it’s recognized that the document is starting point, it will inform the second draft text that is expected to be circulated on Friday. The Conference President’s Non-Paper – known as a ‘Legal Scrub’ – came out shortly after 5pm and Control Arms immediately sprang into action.
The document includes improvements on issues such as the role of the Secretariat and ensuring that non-state parties are held to account to the same degree as states. But much more is needed. Although there’s been a legal scrub, the loopholes are still dirty as ever and Control Arms will continue to work hard on urging governments to scrub, fix, and close these to deliver the ATT the world deserves.