Stimson celebrated the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with an evening reception on Tuesday, May 12 featuring the “50 Celebrating 50” photo exhibit from the Control Arms Campaign. The exhibit presents striking photographs from 50 individuals celebrating the first 50 ratifications of the ATT, including Stimson Senior Associate Rachel Stohl — the consultant to the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty process. The reception featured remarks from Ellen Laipson,  Stimson’s President and CEO, Ambassador Jorge Lomónaco of Mexico, Chair of the ATT Conference of States Parties, AmbassadorMartin Dahinden, Switzerland’s Ambassador to the United States, Anna MacDonald, Director of Control Arms and Rachel Stohl, Stimson Senior Associate. Photos from the exhibit will remain displayed at Stimson through June 2015.

The Arms Trade Treaty is the first legally binding treaty to regulate the estimated $85 billion annual trade in conventional weapons and establish specific criteria for governments to apply when making international arms transfer decisions. It became international law on December 24, 2014.

Photos below are courtesy of the Control Arms Campaign: