U.S. Signature Needed to Advance Global Arms Trade Treaty
Resources & Experts Available for Interview for June 3 Signing at UN Headquarters
For Immediate Release: May 31, 2013
Contact: Tim Farnsworth, Program Assoc./Communications Coordinator 202-463-8270, ext. 105
(Washington, D.C.)--On Monday, June 3, representatives from dozens of states will gather at the United Nations to sign the new Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The ATT will for the first time establish common international standards that must be met before states authorize transfers of conventional weapons or export ammunition and weapons parts and components.
Going forward, the value of the treaty depends on prompt signature and ratification and effective implementation by member states, especially the major arms exporting states, including the United States, Russia, and China.
"The United States played a key role in shaping this historic global Arms Trade Treaty. Now, President Obama can help build support for the treaty and move it closer toward entry into force by agreeing to be among the first world leaders to sign the pact," writes Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in a recent commentary on ACA's blog, www.armscontrolnow.org.
Unfortunately, the Barack Obama administration has not yet signaled whether it will be among the first countries to sign the treaty on June 3.
Several resources on the ATT are available from the Arms Control Association:
- "Special Report: UN General Assembly Adopts Arms Trade Treaty By Overwhelming Vote," by Jeff Abramson in May 2013 issue of Arms Control Today.
- "The New Arms Trade Treaty: Assessing Its Impact and Accelerating Its Implementation," panel discussion with Rachel Stohl, Stimson senior associate, Paul O'Brien, Oxfam America, Richard Tauwhare, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, May 6, 2013.
- "Next Steps For the Arms Trade Treaty: Securing Entry Into Force," by Paul Holtom and Mark Bromley of the Stockholm Peace Research Institute in the June 2013 issue of Arms Control Today. (Pre-publication PDF version of article is available at request for reporters; available online without subscription at www.armscontrol.org/act/current on June 10.)
ACA experts are available for interviews:
- Daryl G. Kimball, executive director, Arms Control Association (202-463-8270 x107); and
- Rachel Stohl, senior associate, Stimson Center; member of ACA Board of Directors; and consultant to the president of the ATT diplomatic conference (202-464-2679).
In addition to the Arms Control Association, supporters of the ATT in the United States include: Amnesty International USA , Friends Committee on National Legislation, Oxfam America, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the National Association of Evangelicals.
These and other organizations will be joining many other groups and leaders from the global Control Arms campaign for the ATT signing on June 3 in New York.
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The Arms Control Association is an independent, membership-based organization dedicated to providing authoritative information and practical policy solutions to address the threats posed by the world's most dangerous weapons.