International Arms Trade Treaty: Federal Foreign Office steps up commitment

In the weeks before the final conference on the International Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Federal Foreign Office is supporting several meetings in order to help with the optimal preparation of the participants and to provide strong impetus towards the conclusion of a robust Arms Trade Treaty

Workshop for government officials of key states to be held in Berlin

Statue entitled "Non-Violence", created by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, in front of UN Headquarters in New York
© picture alliance / dpa

Statue entitled "Non-Violence", created by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, in front of UN Headquarters in New York

Statue entitled "Non-Violence", created by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd, in front of UN Headquarters in New York

© picture alliance / dpa

Together with the Federal College for Security Studies, the Federal Foreign Office will host a workshop in Berlin from 25 to 27 February 2013 for government representatives of key states, in particular new global players, to provide them with an informal setting for the preparation and structuring of the upcoming conference. Alternative solutions for contentious issues are to be found in the run‑up to the concluding UN conference. By hosting this workshop, the Federal Foreign Office intends to make a constructive contribution towards the success of the concluding UN conference on the International Arms Trade Treaty.

Twin conference for parliamentarians in Namibia und Nigeria

Moreover, the Federal Foreign Office is helping Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), an international NGO, with organizing a twin conference in Windhoek/Namibia (07 - 08 March 2013) and Abuja/Nigeria (November 2013), mostly for African states. Parliamentarians from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Zimbabwe, as well as from some non-African states, will exchange views on how to make the Treaty’s provisions as well as the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms applicable law in their respective countries. Germany is providing financial support for the two conferences to the tune of 100,000 euros.

Support ahead of the UN Conference in Ethiopia

Also with support from the Federal Foreign Office, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) will host a conference for all African states on 7/8 March at the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa in order to help the African negotiators achieve a strong and robust ATT. The African states have emerged as strong champions of a robust ATT, since many of them suffer from the presence of great numbers of illegal small and light arms. The Federal Foreign Office will provide 135,000 euros for this conference.

Last updated 13.03.2013