The first Conference of States parties to Arms
Trade Treaty (ATT) took place in Cancun, Mexico on 24-27 August 2015 under
Mexican chairmanship and with a large participation from NGO and civil society.
Together with Member States, the EU participated as observer.
The ATT was adopted in 2013 by the UN and
entered into force in December 2014 . It is the first international legally
binding agreement to establish standards for regulating arms trade and
promoting transparency. As such, it carries large potential to help prevent
conflict, armed violence and human rights abuses. So far, 130 UN States have
signed it and 72 ratified.
The goal of the first Conference of States
parties to lay solid foundations for the ATT was met as it successfully agreed
its rules of procedure and financial rules, common reporting arrangements for
States and established the ATT Secretariat. The ATT Secretariat will be located
in Geneva and headed by Mr Dumisani Dladla of South Africa. These achievements
further support the international momentum for responsibility and transparency in
arms trade, an endeavour long promoted by the EU for instance through its
Common Position 2008/944/CFSP on the control of arms exports.
The EU welcomes the positive and substantive
outcome for the Conference, which will strengthen efforts towards
universalisation and effective implementation of the Treaty. The EU is
providing a tangible contribution in this regard with its dedicated outreach
and capacity-building programme. This programme with a 6.4 million euros
budget is currently active is nine beneficiary countries and supports
States that wish to receive assistance in strengthening their controls over
arms transfers, in compliance with the ATT.
The EU also continues to encourage States not
yet party to the Treaty to accede to it.
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