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(press release) Media Release: 77 governments champion resolution for an Arms Trade Treaty
10 October , 2006
In a massive show of support for stronger arms controls at the United
Nations in New York, 77 governments co-sponsored a resolution tabled today to start work on a global Arms Trade Treaty. Many more governments are expected to back the initiative in the coming days.
The resolution will be debated tomorrow in the United Nations' First
Committee and will proceed to a vote in the final week of October.
Several emerging exporters of weapons including Serbia, Romania and
Bulgaria have pledged their support for an Arms Trade Treaty for the first
time today. Other first time supporters include countries that have been
devastated by armed violence including Colombia, East Timor, Haiti, Liberia
and Rwanda.
"Today we’ve seen the call for the Arms Trade Treaty transformed into
action. Governments were given their first opportunity to endorse the
resolution to start work on a Treaty, and they queued to sign up," said
Anna Macdonald, Oxfam International's Control Arms Campaign Manager.
The resolution enjoyed widespread support across Africa, Latin America and
Europe. The Canadian, South African and Brazilian governments are among
those who have previously expressed support for an Arms Trade Treaty, and
are expected to co-sponsor the resolution.
"The Arms Trade Treaty is gathering momentum. Straggler governments have
ten days to get on board. This groundswell of support must not be held back
by a few sceptical states," said Brian Wood, Amnesty International's Arms
Policy Advisor.
Oxfam International, Amnesty International and the International Action
Network on Small Arms (IANSA) have joined forces to campaign for an Arms
Trade Treaty based on respect for international law, especially human
rights and humanitarian law. The campaign, which is supported by 20 Nobel
Peace laureates, has been working towards this vote for three years.
"Since we started the Control Arms Campaign three years ago, it is
estimated that over a million people have been killed by guns and other
small arms. Governments must get behind the Arms Trade Treaty," said Mark
Marge, IANSA's UN Representative.
For more information call the Control Arms press team:
Clare Rudebeck: +1 646 388 2884.
Taylor Thompson: +1 202 321 2967.
ENDS
