Arms Trade Treaty

Before the adoption (2013) of the landmark Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by the General Assembly, there was no global set of rules governing the trade in conventional weapons.

Through the ATT, States have agreed on robust international standards to help guide governments in deciding whether to authorise arms transfers. It provides for cooperation and assistance to help countries develop adequate regulatory systems, and safe weapons stockpiles.

The ATT covers all conventional weapons: from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. It includes ammunition and parts & components.

General Assembly

GA resolutions

The Arms Trade Treaty

Towards an Arms Trade Treaty

SG reports

SG remarks

Negotiations process 2009-2013

Security Council

SC resolutions

SG reports

Human Rights Council

HRC resolutions

Meetings

Conferences of States Parties

2018

2017

Negotiations process 2009-2013

Treaty text

How to accede

Step-by-step guidance for government officials

English

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Basic facts

States Parties	94
Ratifications	89
Accessions	5
Signatories	130

GA vote adopting the ATT	154-3-23
Adopted by the GA	2 April 2013
Entry into force	24 December 2014
Next annual reporting deadline	31 May 2019
No treaty amendments until	24 December 2020

The United Nations and the ATT

Key roles of the United Nations include providing a channel for assistance (art. 2), and all actions related to being the depositary of the treaty (art. 27), but the ATT mentions the UN 23 times.

For annual national reports on weapons exports and imports, the ATT takes the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) as a model.

Topics

1. Why Join the ATT

This toolkit can assist States Parties as well as other States that want to abide by the ATT.
The toolkit is a set of modules based on good practices and UN standards and guidelines,
from which authorities can choose what applies best to their context.

2. Overview of Obligations

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), commits to putting in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty. States will decide which measures they need to carry out their obligations under the ATT. These
measures may vary from country to country. This second module, Overview of Obligations, will assist governments by providing an overview of the
obligations under the ATT.

In particular, Module 2 will discuss what items are covered by the Treaty. And it will clarify the
necessary national implementation actions. Also, this module will address opportunities for
cooperation and how to foster transparency and accountability in the regulation of the international
trade of conventional arms.

3. Reporting Requirements

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) commits to putting in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty.
States will decide which measures are best to fulfil their obligations under the ATT. These measures
may vary from country to country.

After reviewing the obligations under the ATT in module 2 of this toolkit, this third module, Reporting
requirements, aims to assist States in understanding the reporting obligations under this Treaty.
Module 3 will discuss the preparation of both the initial report and the annual report as well as the
submission of information on effective measures taken to address the diversion of covered weapons.

4. Information Exchange, International Cooperation and Assistance

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), commits to putting in place adequate measures to
implement the Treaty. States will decide which measures are best to fulfil their obligations under the ATT. These measures may
vary from country to country.

After reviewing the reporting requirements under the ATT in module 3 of this toolkit, this fourth module,
Information exchange, international cooperation and assistance, aims to assist States in setting up
mechanisms to exchange information and facilitating international cooperation and assistance to
implement the Treaty.

This module will discuss the role of the national points of contact and the conference of States Parties. It
will also address international cooperation and assistance to implement the Treaty.

5. Prohibitions on Transfers

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) commits to putting in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty. Each State will decide which measures it needs in order to carry out its obligations under the ATT. These
measures may vary from country to country.

This sixth module, Export of conventional weapons, ammunitions, parts and components, provides States
with practical information to consider when establishing and maintaining a national export control
system. In particular, this module will discuss how to conduct an export assessment.

6. Export

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) commits to putting in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty. Each State will decide which measures it needs to put in place in order to carry out its obligations under
the ATT. These measures may vary from country to country.

Article 8 of the ATT explicitly requires States Parties to take measures to allow them to regulate, where
necessary, the import of the conventional arms covered in Article 2 (1), but are encouraged to apply the
provisions of the Treaty to the broadest range of conventional arms.1.

This seventh module, Import of conventional weapons, provides States with practical information to
consider when establishing and maintaining control over imports.

7. Import

This seventh module, Import of conventional weapons, provides States with practical information to
consider when establishing and maintaining control over imports.

8. Transit and Trans-shipment

Any countries joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) are required to put in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty. Each State Party will decide which measures it needs to adopt in order to carry out its obligations
under the ATT. These measures may vary from country to country.

This eighth module, Transit and trans & shipment, aims to assist States in regulating arms transit and
trans-shipment taking place under their jurisdiction, where necessary and feasible.

9. Brokering

Any countries joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) are required to put in place effective measures to
implement the Treaty. States will decide which measures they need to carry out their obligations under the ATT. These
measures may vary from country to country.

This ninth module, Brokering, aims to assist States in regulating arms brokering taking place under
their jurisdiction. In particular, this module will discuss measures to be considered by States Parties
in adopting national brokering controls.

10. Preventing Diversion

Any country joining the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) commits to putting in place effective measures to implement the Treaty.
Each State will decide which measures it needs in order to carry out its obligations under the ATT.
These measures may vary from country to country.

This tenth module, Preventing weapons diversion, aims to assist States in taking appropriate measures to that end.