Rachel Stohl, a senior associate at the Stimson Center who has served
as a consultant for six years to the United Nations on the Arms Trade Treaty
that was approved today by the U.N. General Assembly, issued the following
statement welcoming passage of the treaty:
“The
United Nations has taken an important step to close dangerous loopholes that
have allowed the international arms trade to operate with impunity. Stopping
this deadly trade and establishing common rules is a positive step that will make
the world a safer place. Now for the first time the international trade in
conventional arms will be regulated by a legally binding treaty. States will be
held accountable for their arms trade. Warlords and human rights abusers will have
a harder time gaining access to arms.”
As a result of Stohl’s work for the U.N., Stimson will host an
event from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at 1111 19th St., NW in Washington
looking at what the treaty means for the United States, featuring lead U.S.
Arms Trade Treaty Negotiator and Assistant Secretary of State Thomas
Countryman. The event will highlight the reactions to the successful adoption
of the treaty from key U.S. stakeholders and discuss what comes next.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the historic an Arms
Trade Treaty by a vote of 154-3 with 23 abstentions. The treaty will be
open for signature beginning June 3.
The ATT is the
first treaty regulating the international trade in conventional arms by
establishing common international standards for national implementation. The
absence of such international standards has fueled conflicts, armed violence
and crime around the world by allowing rogue regimes, rebel groups, terrorist
organizations and criminals to be armed with impunity. For decades, states have
tried to close these dangerous loopholes without success.
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The Stimson Center is a nonproï¬t and nonpartisan think
tank that conducts research and offers pragmatic policy ideas on some of the
most important peace and security challenges around the world. Stimson was recently
honored with a $1 million
MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.