Prominent world leaders from around the globe came together to encourage progress of the Arms Trade Treaty. The event, held in the ECOSOC chamber at the United Nations, acted as an opportunity for the Treaty’s newest signatories to affirm their commitment to the new instrument and present plans relating to implementation. It further provided a forum for States to identify those areas in which they may require support from other Member States in implementing the Treaty. World leaders including Laura Chinchilla (President of Costa Rica), Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago), and Nick Clegg (Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) all delivered statements as part of the event after a rousing opening speech by Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, who presided. In her opening remarks, Bishop urged governments to implement the treaty as soon as possible, underlying the massive human suffering caused by the poorly regulated arms trade.
Control Arms was represented by Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International and Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International.
Ms. Byanyima made clear in her remarks that the Treaty’s words are only starting point if we are to see a real impact on the ground. “It is not enough to sign the treaty. Governments must take their role of implementing the ATT very seriously. This is a treaty about saving lives and transforming the way the arms trade operates. It will require changes in legislation, and even more importantly, it must achieve changes in behavior.”
