NO ARMS TRADE TREATY - BUT NOT ALL IS LOST

After a month of intense negotiations, the Arms Trade Treaty Diplomatic Conference ended without a treaty. The Chair, Ambassador Moritan of Argentina, stated, “my apologies are very deep because I was not up to the circumstances.” It is not the end, however. There will be other opportunities, among them at the General Assembly.

Mexico made a statement on behalf of 90 states declaring: “We are determined to secure an Arms Trade Treaty as soon as possible. One thatwould bring about a safer world for the sake of all humanity.”

In terms of IANSA’s advocacy linking gender and women's rights to the arms trade, we have made big strides. Considering that diplomats involved in the ATT process did not think gender had anything to do with this treaty when we began, thefact that gender-based violence made it into the draft with such widespread support shows that IANSA Women’s voices have been heard. The prominence and acknowledgement of GBV is an achievement in itself and will serve as a good basis to continue to make the links between gender and small arms control. We can hold governments accountable and begin to create a new norm, that the risk of gender-based violence must be considered before approving international arms transfers.

Direct Link to Full 4-Page Policy Paper: http://www.iansa-women.org/sites/default/files/Joint_policy_paper_gender_att_final_june2012.pdf

 Note

The IANSA Women's Network is the only international network focused on the connections between gender, women’s rights, small arms and armed violence.

*EASSI is a member of the IANSA Women’s Network