After two weeks of intense discussions, state negotiations at the first Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee (ATT Prepcom) ends on Friday 23 July. Many IANSA members have been present at the United Nations in New York to engage with states during their deliberations. Civil society reminded states not to forget that the inclusion of human rights, international humanitarian law and development should be at the heart of the proposed ATT.

During the first week state discussions focused on defining the elements that are likely to be included in the final draft of the ATT while talks in week two concentrated on substance, including scope, parameters and the implementation of the ATT. NGO representatives made strong presentations to states on why it is essential to produce a strong and robust ATT. IANSA members noted that while the need to include SALW in the scope of the ATT was widely recognised by many states there is still a lot of work to do to make sure it is part of the final Arms Trade Treaty in 2012.

The Chair of the Prepcom, Ambassador Roberto Garcia Moritan of Argentina, made an unexpected decision to exclude NGOs from six informal plenary sessions, two on each of scope, parameters and implementation. The prevention of civil society observing the talks raised concern over the openness and transparency of the process. Despite vigorous campaigning by the Control Arms Coalition, the Chair’s decision remained final.

Formal discussions were supported by several side events including ‘ATT Transport Controls Briefing ‘, Amnesty International, ‘Tracking the Global Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons’, Small Arms Survey and ‘How to Implement an ATT’, Government of the Netherlands, Saferworld, CITS and Oxfam International. The side events were well attended and informative.

The future ATT would establish international rules and standards to better regulate the arms trade and close current loopholes. The next ATT Prepcom is scheduled for February 2011.