Switzerland became the 62nd country to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty on 30 January when Ambassador Paul Seger deposited their instrument of ratification at UN headquarters. Switzerland is the first state to ratify the ATT since it entered into force and became international law on Christmas Eve of last year. In a statement released by on the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, they are quoted as saying:
“This is in keeping with the country’s traditional role as an advocate for humanitarian concerns, in particular in regard to international humanitarian law and Switzerland’s active peace policy.”
Switzerland’s ratification is also significant given their status as a top-15 global arms exporter.
The Swiss government was among first countries to sign the treaty when it opened for signature in June of 2013, and is one of three countries also bidding to host the Secretariat of the ATT, alongside Trinidad and Tobago and Austria.
