Activities on the Arms Trade Treaty as the
UN July Conference approaches

The global trade in conventional weapons – from warships and battle tanks to fighter jets and machine guns – remains poorly regulated. No set of internationally agreed standards exist to ensure that arms are only transferred for appropriate use. The UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty in July 2012 will elaborate an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms. It is important that the Arms Trade Treaty be legally binding and have the highest possible standards.

As the July UN Conference approaches all stakeholders interested in getting a strong and legally binding ATT get active in lobbying policy makers.

Action for a strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

You can influence the ATT negotiations by writing to your government asking them to support a strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty that will save lives and reduce human suffering.  Find a model letter and action at the AEFJN website. Join our action by sending the letter to your government representative.

http://www.aefjn.org/index.php/365.html

Sign the online appeal to governments for strong Arms Trade Treaty.

http://www.controlarms.org/home

www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/Special/SAS-Small-Arms-Control-Measures-and-ATT.pdf

It's time to act brochure: ATT basics

The “It's time to act brochure” explains simply what the ATT is, why we need one and what you can do about it.  

http://speakout.controlarms.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ControlArms-leaflet-1.pdf

Participate in the June 27th Global Day of Action
for the ATT

On June 27^th, people from all over the world will promote the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in events with political, religious and other leaders, media and encouraging activists to take action in many diverse ways. This day will also be the culmination of the Speak Out! Action.

Prayer for the Global Day of Action http://www.paxchristi.net/international/foci/ATT/page4.php

http://www.controlarms.org/speak-out  

West African countries gather in Nigeria to discuss ATT

On April 26-27, representatives of civil society and the Control Arms coalition met with 15 member states from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja, Nigeria. Discussions focused on strengthening the ECOWAS common position on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) ahead of the final ATT negotiations in July. The meeting provided a unique opportunity for ECOWAS Member States to update their knowledge on the state of play at the UN ATT Preparatory Committees and to strategize for the upcoming Diplomatic Conference in July.  All the 15 States are now committed to adequately prepare and gear up for the July conference.

http://www.controlarms.org/daily.php?id=6229

Uganda: 300,000 small arms smuggled into
East Africa in the past 10 years

A total of 300,000 small arms have been smuggled into Uganda and other East African Community countries over the last 10 years, according to the East Africa Action Network on Small Arms (EAANSA). In a recent press conference, they called on governments of the East African Community to support a strong ATT which is legally binding and includes criteria that can help prevent arms transfers where there is a substantial risk that they will be used to violate international human rights, humanitarian law or undermine development. Richard Mugisha of EAANSA said, “How can the sale of mangoes be more tightly controlled than the sale of machine guns? It just doesn’t make sense. The situation is indefensible and it’s long overdue for countries to hammer out a legally-binding agreement on weapons transfers”.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/630889-300-000-small-arms-smuggled-into-east-africa.html

Import and transit considerations in an
Arms Trade Treaty

Whereas much of the attention in ATT discussions has been placed on the export aspect of the international arms trade and the major arms exporting states, a majority of states are primarily or even exclusively arms importers, with many also being states through which arms transit. In this report, the authors provide recommendations for how to responsibly include and implement import and transit controls under an Arms Trade Treaty. The report is based on case studies of Barbados, Estonia and Namibia, states located near major trade routes and thus familiar with the transit trade, while at the same time not major arms producers or exporters.

http://www.ploughshares.ca/content/import-and-transit-considerations-arms-trade-treaty

Africa Regional Consultation on the ATT

On 21-22 May 2012, IANSA together with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) organised a conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to prepare for the ATT Diplomatic Conference in July 2012. The meeting was held in collaboration with the African Union (AU) with support from the Government of Australia and brought together governmental experts from 54 African countries, as well as officials from the UN, the AU and African regional economic communities. Leading regional and international think-tanks and NGOs also took part in the meeting as observers. 

Mali: Press Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

On 20 March, IANSA members co-hosted a press conference in Bamako, Mali, on the campaign for a strong Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to help prevent serious human rights abuses and atrocities committed with small arms. The event was attended by 48 journalists

The Costs of Firearm Violence:
A National Public Health Priority

An analysis of the public health consequences of gun violence in South Africa by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), highlights how cause-of-death data is an essential component of health information systems The burden of mortality and morbidity arising from violence and injury affects the lives of millions of individuals annually and continues to undermine social harmony and socio-economic development. This is, now more than ever, a national public health priority – one that needs to be monitored and controlled so as to limit the number of injuries and non-natural deaths in South Africa.

http://www.iss.co.za/iss_today.php?ID=1484

New report from Oxfam highlights irresponsible
arms transfers

More than $2.2bn worth of arms and ammunition have been imported since 2000 to countries operating under arms embargoes, according to the new report “The Devil is in the Detail”  by Oxfam International.  It includes recommendations for how the ATT can help prevent irresponsible arms deals, and says “The ATT can build on existing regional and sub-regional initiatives: as of 2012, 100 countries are already party to various regional agreements that include legally binding criteria to control the trade of arms and ammunition”.

http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/devil-detail-criteria-att

Arms Control and Armed Violence Prevention
in Ivory Coast

Sub-regional instability, conflict, the emergence of armed groups, the deterioration of law and order, and armed criminality have all contributed to the proliferation and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons in Côte d’Ivoire. The presence of a substantial number of weapons means that violent incidents now have much more serious consequences. The Small Arms Survey has published “A National Survey of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Côte d’Ivoire: Arms Control and Armed Violence Prevention before the Post-electoral Crisis”. The report aims to help the country formulate a national plan of action to combat the proliferation, circulation, and illegal use of small arms.

Executive Summary : www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR14-CoteIvoire-Summary-EN.pdf

East African Community passes bill
to prevent gun trafficking

The Legislative Assembly of the East African Community (EAC) have passed an amendment to the East African Community Customs Management Act that highlights the need for more cooperation and information sharing between authorities in the region to help prevent gun trafficking. This could help East African economies as, indirectly, a lot of economic losses made annually due to insecurity will be curtailed. A recent report by the Stimson Center and the Stanley Foundation points to the effects of gun proliferation on economies in the region. According to the authors, “Gun violence and SALW trafficking in Eastern Africa have had profound impacts on national development prospects”.

http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/resources.cfm?id=447