The UN Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) wrapped up on 27 July 2012 after four weeks of negotiations. The conference had been tasked with reaching consensus on an international treaty to establish “common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms.” On the penultimate day, the president of the conference presented a draft treaty text. It was felt that states would accept this document despite its limitations. However, on the last day of the conference, on instructions from the White House, the US delegation called for another round of negotiations. This call was subsequently supported by a number of noted skeptical states of the ATT initiative, including Cuba, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela. This was a blow to the many UN member states that were expecting to conclude negotiations on an ATT in July 2012 and begin work to bring the treaty into force.
Read the complete article written by Dr Paul Holtom of SIPRI, on the measured success, loopholes in the draft text, role of the US and likely next steps in the Arms Trade Treaty process at the International Peace Insitute's The Global Observatory.
About the Photo: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addresses the opening session of the UN Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty. UN Photo taken by Eskinder Debebe.
