News

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges to disarmament and arms control and has obliged governments and other stakeholders to experiment with new approaches and mechanisms.

This panel discussion examined the fundamental elements of good decision-making and governance in the context of disarmament and arms control treaties, discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected these processes, and explore the implications for the future.

Just one month into 2021, the US and Italy have announced their intention to halt arms transfers to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for use in Yemen. These decisions come after repeated warnings that arms sales to the warring parties have fueled the conflict, contributed to hundreds of violations of international humanitarian law and exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation.

On 6 July, the People’s Republic of China deposited its instrument of accession to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the United Nations. China will become a State Party on 4 October 2020 (90 days after ratification), bringing the total number of States Parties to 107....

On 28 April 2020, the Republic of Namibia deposited its instrument of ratification to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), becoming the Treaty’s 106th State Party. Namibia acted quickly in order to ensure it will participate as a State Party in the Sixth Conference of States Parties to the ATT (CSP6, 17-21 August 2020), in accordance with Article 22 which stipulates that the Treaty enters into force 90 days after a state has ratified it.

From 4 – 7 February 2020, ATT States Parties engaged in productive discussions during the ATT Working Group Meetings and the First Informal Preparatory Meeting for the 2020 Conference of States Parties (CSP6). The meetings welcomed opening discussions under a new...

On Monday, 3 February 2020, Control Arms, together with the Permanent Missions of Argentina and Canada, co-hosted a one-day practical workshop on “Harnessing Information Sharing & Transparency to Prevent & Respond to Diversion.” Building upon the theoretical...

Thirty-five government and civil society representatives from nine countries and eight Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) experts met from 09-12 December 2019 to attend the first in-person session of the ATT Academy in Southern Africa. Organized in partnership with the Ministry...

The 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security (UNGA First Committee) concluded earlier this month, ending a month-long negotiation on all things disarmament, including nuclear weapons, anti-personnel landmines,...