Diplomats and other officials from the foreign ministries of 11 Caricom states met with representatives from the Caricom Secretariat and other agencies for a workshop aimed at developing a regional position for the upcoming Diplomatic Conference to negotiate a legally binding global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the United Nations.
The Caribbean Coalition for Development and the Reduction of Armed Violence (CDRAV) organised the Third Regional Workshop on Negotiations for the Arms Trade Treaty held last Thursday and Friday under the auspices of the governments of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Australia. In a press release, CDRAV said about 40 officials, including representatives from Caricom IMPACS, customs and civil society attended the workshop for discussions to come to a joint position in time for the July 2-27 UN meeting in New York. Lead Negotiator for Caricom on the ATT, Ambassador Eden Charles of Trinidad and Tobago noted, “An overwhelming number of UN Member States want a strong and legally binding treaty.” He also cautioned that “the ATT must not be a glorified ATT which has no legal teeth,” the release said.
It also noted that Caricom countries have been lobbying for small arms and light weapons and ammunition to be included in the ATT and the meeting endorsed this position.
CDRAV is confident that a treaty, which is consistent with acceptable norms of international laws, especially international humanitarian and human rights law will redound to the benefit of the Caribbean people. CDRAV welcomes the unified Caricom perspective and position that underscores the importance of the negotiations, adoption and entry into force of a legally binding robust arms trade treaty.
“We are encouraged that CARICOM member states’ position is consistent with our view that an effective treaty for our region must encompass the regulation and transparent trade in all conventional weapons including small arms and light weapons, ammunition, parts and components,” the release said.
According to the release, a stronger regulatory framework is needed to assist in the fight against crime and the challenges of proliferation of illegal small arms and ammunition that has flooded the region. “As such we urge all Caricom Member States to mobilize all necessary resources to realise a strong UN Arms Trade Treaty,” CDRAV said.
More than 1355 parliamentarians in 54 countries as well as faith leaders who are concerned that the international trade in arms, when undertaken irresponsibly or diverted to illicit markets, contributes to armed violence support the global campaign for an ATT, the release said.
It noted too that governments and civil society organisations have served notice that an acceptable ATT will at a minimum establish that no international transfer of arms and ammunition will be authorized if there is a substantial risk that the weapons will be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law or will seriously impair poverty reduction or socio-economic development.
The workshop thanked the Australian government for the financial support it has provided for preparations in the region.
