The problem (continued)

Since the mid-1990s, a group of NGOs have been collaborating with an international initiative to establish a framework within which such criteria could be developed. Drawing on the principles of the 1997 Nobel Peace Laureates' International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers proposed by Dr. Oscar Arias, the Arms Trade Treaty (hereinafter the "ATT") and its Global Principles codify states' existing responsibilities under international law and provides an operative mechanism for their application to the arms trade.

Strong regional support for the ATT will provide the key element in building consensus and momentum around the global principles and operative elements of an international instrument. ATT initiative promotion continues in the international realm while emphasizing a multi-step strategy in which momentum, political will, and civil society interest and action are built and strengthened through a strong regional emphasis.

The overall aim of the initiative is to:

• contribute to global peace and sustainable development and education through the establishment of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) as a comprehensive international treaty to regulate arms transfers according to established standards of human rights, humanitarian law and peaceful international relations via international and regional consultation and building blocks of support,

• establish a core, common set of minimum standards that would prevent the most irresponsible arms transfers from ever happening,

• provide transparency and the information-exchange necessary for the effective implementation of those standards

The central objective of the initiative is to establish a broad, diverse and powerful coalition of governments and non-governmental actors committed to the negotiation of the ATT and supported by an informed public opinion in favour of tighter controls.

Executive summary of the ATT

Why we need an ATT (pdf, 262Kb)