Arms Trade Treaty

In 1996 a group of Nobel Laureates first set out their vision for a global accord to tackle the problem of international arms transfers. Seventeen years later, an Arms Trade Treaty was adopted by the General Assembly ofthe United Nations (UN) in New York.

Over the month of July 2012, states shared their views on what the treaty text should contain, debating the principles, goals and objectives of the treaty, as well as the specific elements that it should include. In spite of intense negotiations and enthusiasm for a successful outcome, the conference failed to reach an agreement. On the last morning, the US announced that it required more time to consider the draft treaty text submitted by the President of the Conference, Ambassador Roberto García Moritán of Argentina. (DipCon rules of procedure required that the Treaty be agreed by consensus.) 

Approximately 90 states immediately put their name to a joint statement which, while noting that more work was needed to develop the text, expressed profound disappointment that they had not been able to complete their task. It also expressed determination to “secure an [ATT] as soon as possible”.  Many others communicated a similar sentiment verbally. 

Later in 2012, this determination was given expression at the UN General Assembly, when Member States agreed by resolution to hold a final Diplomatic Conference from 18 to 28 March 2013 (DipCon 2). In the event that DipCon2 failed to deliver a treaty, the resolution provided for the ATT to be returned to the UN General Assembly during the current session, where a treaty could be adopted on the basis of a vote.

At the end of two weeks of intensive negotiations during DipCon2, consensus on the final treaty text was blocked by Iran, North Korea and Syria, despite the best efforts of the Conference President Ambassador Peter Woolcott of Australia. A resolution to adopt the ATT was thus brought before the General Assembly, which adopted the treaty by a large majority on 2 April 2013. This was an historic achievement, but it is only the beginning - states will now need to focus on progressive interpretation of the treaty and its effective implementation.

• Arms transfer controls in Europe
• UK arms transfer controls

Saferworld has been at the forefront of civil society efforts for an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) since the seeds of the idea were first planted in 1996. Together with NGO allies we worked to build support for the adoption of a robust and effective treaty in March 2013. We were present at the first UN General Assembly resolution on the ATT in 2006 and the two Diplomatic Conferences that were held in July 2012 (DipCon1) and March 2013 (Dipcon2) where an ATT was achieved.

Saferworld has undertaken research, developed policy proposals, and advocated with governments and international institutions to make the case for an effective treaty based on international humanitarian and human rights law. Saferworld has particular expertise on the content of the Arms Trade Treaty and the issues surrounding effective implementation, which will now be a key focus of our work.

Following the failure of DipCon1 Saferworld was especially active in exploring and suggesting remedies to the pitfalls and loopholes in the draft treaty text submitted by the President of the Conference, Ambassador Roberto García Moritán of Argentina (see, for example, Finishing the job: Delivering a bullet-proof ATT).  We organised roundtables involving governments from all regions of the world (in Vienna in December 2012 and The Hague in February 2013), participated at other intercessional ATT events, and worked bilaterally to encourage states to explore how best to address weaknesses in the draft text and pursue substantive improvements to it in the lead-up to, and at DipCon2. 

At DipCon2 as part of the Control Arms coalition, Saferworld supported the negotiations and the achievement of a robust and effective ATT.

Now that the ATT has been agreed, Saferworld will work to encourage its swift signature and ratification and support progresssive interpretation and full implementation of the treaty by all states parties.

Read more:

• Saferworld and the history of the Arms Trade Treaty briefing
• Implementation Framework for the ATT
• Proposals for the Implementation of the ATT

This list of resources will be expanded. Items listed here do not necessarily represent the views of Saferworld.

• Find out more about the Control Arms campaign
• Visit ArmsTreaty.org for states' positions on implementation
• Text of the Arms Trade Treaty
• UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty