26th September, 2014
Eight more nations will ratify the Arms Trade Treaty at this week’s high level meetings at the UN in New York, taking to 53 the number of governments that will have done so with the result that the treaty will now come into effect on 24th December.
Under the treaty – the first UN treaty to regulate the international arms trade, states commit themselves to regulating all transfers of conventional arms and components – including tanks and armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft and attack helicopters, warships, missiles and small arms – and banning the export of arms where there is a substantial risk they will be used in war crimes, genocide or attacks against civilians.
A threshold of 50 nation ratifying the treaty was required before it could enter into force, 90 days after the 50th ratification. Among the latest nations to ratify the treaty are Argentina, the Bahamas, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Senegal and Uruguay.
The World Council of Churches – part of a coalition of groups which has been lobbying for the introduction of the ATT – has welcomed the moves. Rev Dr Olav Fyske Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, said the daily news is a reminder of "how sorely a strong and effective ATT is needed".
"Human life and human dignity, God’s great gifts to each of us, are being battered by armed violence in many places," he said. "Controlling the arms trade is a requirement for stopping terror and violence in the world today."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon agreed in a message sent to a high level meeting on the treaty that the need for such a document remained "abundantly clear".
“Just as with other commodities, the trade in arms should comply with vigorous, internationally agreed standards,” he said. “All actors involved in the arms trade must be held accountable.”
As many as 2,000 people die around the world every day as a result of armed violence.
– DAVID ADAMS
