Briefings
Arms Trade Highlights: August – September 2015
The first Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty was held in Mexico on August 24-27, 2015. Key outcomes from discussions at the Conference included the selection of Geneva as the seat of the permanent secretariat for the ATT, as well as agreement that future decisions will be made by majority vote. The International Committee of the Red Cross voiced concerns that many States continu
Arms Trade Highlights: June – July 2015
Recent years have seen increasing emphasis placed on the need to eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Governments – and civil society generally – have recognized the trade as contributing to insecurity that has occasioned mass human displacement on a scale not seen since the end of World War Two. When cases of illicit arms trading come to light, the world is often reminded
Arms Trade Highlights: January – May 2015
The landmark Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), regulating the international trade in conventional arms entered into force on 24 December 2014. With 130 State signatories and 69 ratifications to date, the Convention will see its first Conference of States Parties take place between 24 to 27 August 2015. Missing from the list of signatories are Canada, China, and Russia. Canada ‘s justification for opting ou