Arms Trade Treaty
Regional organizations
Exploring the Critical Role of Regional Actors in ATT Universalization and Implementation
About
The ATT Regional Actor Handbook is the final product of a multi-year project developed in three key phases:
Map
An in-depth mapping exercise of 60 Regional Organizations, aimed to capture the initial landscape of Regional and sub-Regional organizations and their involvement in implementing the Arms Trade Treaty or otherwise regulating the international arms trade.
Identify
Identification of the regional and sub-Regional Organizations most involved in Arms Trade Treaty implementation and other related arms trade regulation efforts. The 29 organizations were selected for inclusion in the Handbook based on a clear mandates to work on relevant issues, a pattern of activities on this topic, or a reputation for engagement in this area. Such organizations include the UN regional Centers for Disarmament in each region, key regional integration organizations as well as law enforcement and customs organizations.
Develop
Development and Publication of the Regional Actors Handbook.
The Handbook provides a comprehensive mapping of activities and efforts carried out by each of the 29 regional actors identified. In addition, the Handbook includes analysis of linkages between the ATT and regional arms control instruments and promotes a better understanding of how programmes and activities designed to combat the illicit arms trade, to strengthen arms control regulation and promote transparency in the international arms trade may complement the efforts to implement the Treaty. The handbook also sets out recommendations on how regional organizations, ATT States Parties and other stakeholders, both individually and collectively, can support the universalization and effective implementation of the ATT.
Structure and Overview
Profiles
1. Description of organization, including a list of members of each Regional Organization and the status of the ATT universalization among these member states. Where applicable, the profiles also include information on regional instruments – both legally binding – that share linkages or complementarities with the ATT.
2. Account of ATT-related activities
The activities are divided into:
- direct ATT support
- indirect ATT support. Under the heading – Establishing Transfer Controls, this section captures assistance provided by Regional Organizations in support of the development of arms transfer control systems and the implementation of relevant regional instruments that have a direct or indirect link to the implementation of the ATT. Given the broad range of assistance covered in this subsection, activities are organized in four types of initiatives: National Control System; Legal Assistance; Diversion Prevention; and Gender and GBV.
Key Finding
This section provides a set of general findings and specific recommendations for Regional Organizations, for ATT States Parties and other stakeholders. The recommendations draw on research findings and take into account the different types of organizations profiled (Regional Integration Organizations, UN Regional Centres, and Law Enforcement Organizations) as well as the challenges they face in relation to ATT promotion, universalization and implementation. In particular, the recommendations highlight opportunities through which Regional Organizations could further their engagement in the ATT as well as ways in which member states can partner with Regional Organizations on ATT-related projects.
Annexes
The Handbook includes three Annexes which present:
- A snapshot of the information provided in the Regional Organization profiles
- A survey of regional instruments and agreements is included in the profiles outlined in Part I with a particular focus on their scope and reporting requirements.
- a list of all the Regional Organizations reviewed as part of this study but not selected for inclusion. The list includes a brief description of each Regional Organization, general information on activities related to disarmament and arms control, and cross-cutting issues that implicate the ATT, such as terrorism and organized crime.
Arms Trade Treaty Regional Actor Organizations
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC)
Organization of American States (OAS)
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)/Caricom IMPACTS
MERCOSUR
Central American Integration Program (SICA)
UNREC
African Union
ECOWAS
ECCAS
RECSA
ECA
IGAD
SARCOM
SADC
Headquarters: Gaborone, Botswana
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 16
SARPCCO
Headquarters: Zimbabwe
Type of organization: Police Coordination
Number of Members: 16 countries, plus SADC and Interpol
European Union
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Number of Members: 27
NATO
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 30
SEESAC
Headquarters: Belgrade, Serbia
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 12
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)
Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
Type of Organization: Law Enforcement
Number of Members: 28
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 57, plus 11 partners for
cooperation
Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC) Centre for Security Cooperation
Headquarters: Zagreb, Croatia
Type of Organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 10
South-East Europe Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC)
Headquarters: Bucharest, Romania
Type of Organization: Law Enforcement
Number of Members: 12
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD)
Headquarters: Lalitpur, Nepal
Type of organization: UN Regional Center
Number of Members: 43
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members:
Pacific Islands Forum
Headquarters: Suva, Fiji
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 18
Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)
Headquarters: Port Vila, Vunuatu
Type of organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 4, plus 1 associate and 2 observers
League of Arab States (LAS)
Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
Type of Organization: Regional Integration
Number of Members: 22 (including Syria, which is currently
Key Findings
Of the 60 Regional Organizations reviewed,
27 organizations
were found to carry out work that was either directly or indirectly in support of the Treaty’s implementation.
Direct Support: 18 of the 27 Regional Organizations have conducted activities specifically focused on supporting the ATT,
Indirect Support: Of the 27 Regional Organizations, 15 are responsible for the implementation of regional instruments that cover small arms or conventional arms control.
Cross-Sectoral Support: The work of Regional Organizations also underscores and reinforces the links between the ATT and peace and security, terrorism, transnational crime, customs matters, transportation, and SALW trafficking
No correlation between specific regional activities relating to ATT universalization and/or implementation and ATT membership rates
- Despite significant efforts undertaken by regional and sub-Regional Organizations, the rates of ATT universalization remain low in certain regions.
- Regional Organizations that enjoy high rates of ATT universalization among their Member States, tend not to prioritize the ATT in their work-plans.
Opportunities for Engagement
Areas where regional organizations may offer expertise, lessons learned and good practice to ATT stakeholders:
Legislative Assistance
Regional Organizations have developed a range of documents – Codes of Conduct on Arms Transfers, Model Arms Control Bills and Model Laws – aimed to assist states to implement the ATT and related regional and international arms control instruments such as. For example, CARICOM IMPACS and the Pacific Islands Forum have utilized ATT Model Laws in their ATT implementation assistance initiatives. These model codes and laws serve to strengthen the ability of Member States to ratify and implement the ATT by providing an initial foundation onto which states can incorporate aspects of the ATT not already covered.
GENDER AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Regional Organizations have developed a range of documents – Codes of Conduct on Arms Transfers, Model Arms Control Bills and Model Laws – aimed to assist states to implement the ATT and related regional and international arms control instruments such as. For example, CARICOM IMPACS and the Pacific Islands Forum have utilized ATT Model Laws in their ATT implementation assistance initiatives. These model codes and laws serve to strengthen the ability of Member States to ratify and implement the ATT by providing an initial foundation onto which states can incorporate aspects of the ATT not already covered.
PSSM
Regional Organizations have developed a range of documents – Codes of Conduct on Arms Transfers, Model Arms Control Bills and Model Laws – aimed to assist states to implement the ATT and related regional and international arms control instruments such as.
REGIONAL WORKING GROUPS
Regional Organizations have developed a range of documents – Codes of Conduct on Arms Transfers, Model Arms Control Bills and Model Laws – aimed to assist states to implement the ATT and related regional and international arms control instruments such as.
Gender and Gender-based Violence
Pssm
Regional Working Groups
Areas in which Regional Organizations could strengthen their engagement with the ATT are also identified:
Synergies
Reporting
Cross-regional support
