global arms trade treaty

The Control Arms Coalition welcomed today’s signing of the Arms Trade Treaty by the United States.

On September 25, 2013, US Secretary of State John Kerry signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

History will be made today at the United Nations as many governments sign an Arms Trade Treaty designed to protect millions living in daily fear of armed violence.

The Control Arms Coalition today say the vote for the first ever global treaty to regulate the international arms trade marks ‘an incredible moment’ signalling the dawn of a new era.

International aid agency Oxfam condemns Syria, Iran and North Korea for blocking  agreement today of the Arms Trade Treaty, which would have saved lives and closed the many loopholes that unscrupulous arms dealers now navigate with impunity.

Campaigners today say radical changes must be made to the latest draft of the Arms Trade Treaty by the Presidency of the Conference, if the treaty is to save lives.

"A Short Film About GUNS" - which examines the unregulated arms trade and how an upcoming treaty negotiations can improve the situation globally – was picked up to be part of the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival.

Anna Macdonald Head of Arms Control at Oxfam said:

Arms traffickers can too easily navigate the patchwork of national arms regulations, fuelling conflict while avoiding arrest and extradition, because of the lack of global regulation of the arms trade.