The World Council of Churches has welcomed moves towards the introduction of the world’s first Arms Trade Treaty after 18 countries – including five of the world’s leading arms exporters – this week ratified the treaty at the UN.
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The move brings to 31 the total number of countries which have now ratified the treaty, more than half of the 50 needed to bring it into force.
Rev De Olav Fyske Tveit said it was “especially important” that five of the world’s 10 top arms exporters – France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – had ratified the treaty but added that more governments needed to do so, in particular mentioning the US and Russia – the two largest arms exporters – and China.
“The news reminds us each day of how urgently people in different parts of the world need the arms trade to be brought under greater control,” he said.
The treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly last April. To date 118 countries have signed the treaty which will regulate the international trade in arms – including everything from tanks and armoured combat vehicles to aircraft, artillery, warships, missles and small arms – and prohibits the transfer of arms which would be used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and certain war crimes.
It is estimated that the unregulated flow of arms is responsible for half a million deaths each year. Australia is among those countries yet to ratify the treaty.
