Control Arms Campaign
About the campaign
Thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of the unregulated global arms trade. The Control Arms campaign is calling for an international, legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty to ease the suffering caused by irresponsible weapons transfers.
Since its beginning in October 2003, Control Arms has gathered the support of over one million people worldwide. In December 2006, 153 governments voted at the United Nations to start work on developing an international Arms Trade Treaty.
Global Day of Action, 23 April 2007
Campaigners around the world urged their governments to respond to the UN Secretary General's special consultation on an international Arms Trade Treaty, and in New York, Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner on Human Rights joined with the Control Arms campaign to call for an effective international Arms Trade Treaty. More
Arms Without Borders: why a globalised trade needs global controls
The globalisation of the arms industry has opened up major loopholes in all current arms export regulations, allowing sales to human rights abusers and countries under arms embargoes.
About the People's Consulation
The UN Secretary-General has called for governments to submit their views on the feasibility, scope and parameters of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). We want to make sure that these submissions from governments incorporate the views of millions of people around the world who are affected by armed violence every day. We must ensure that the millions of people who support a strong treaty based on international humanitarian and human rights law are heeded during the government consultation process.
Control Arms has organised People’s Consultations in 40-plus countries around the world to give people and communities a forum to demand that their governments take action for tough international arms controls. Consultations were held at community, national and global levels. Ultimately, they will feed into the political process when civil society organisations present their findings to government officials for inclusion in their national submission to the UN Secretary-General.
You can get involved with the People’s Consultation too – as an individual, as part of a small group or by taking part in an organised People’s Consultation in your country. [Visit our take action page for ideas on how you can help]
The People’s Consultation on an Arms Trade Treaty
The UN Secretary General is currently consulting with all governments on the possible content of an Arms Trade Treaty. We now have a chance to make sure they get it right by developing a strong and comprehensive treaty based on international human rights and humanitarian law. [Click here to find out more, take action and read government submissions to the UN consultation.]
Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, joined the Control Arms campaign at a press conference in New York, to call for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty, which would ban arms transfers likely to contribute to human rights violations, fuel conflict, or undermine development.
Control Arms and the co-authors of the Arms Trade Treaty resolution (voted on at the UN last year), held two events in New York on 23 April to mark the Global Day of Action, and to encourage all States to submit to the UN Secretary Generals's consultation on the ATT.
The day began with a press conference with speeches from Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Honorary President of Oxfam International, the Ambassadors of Costa Rica, Kenya, Finland and the UK, Joseph Dube of Control Arms, and a special video message from Hollywood actress Dame Helen Mirren, direct to States. All stressed the importance of the Arms Trade Treaty, and the need for it to be based on human rights, international humanitiarian law and sustainable development. Media turn out was high, and articles have appeared across the world from Japan to Senegal.
At lunchtime, Control Arms and the co-authors held a States' Consultation. All seven co-authors presented their views on the ATT to an audience of over 70 states. Control Arms representatives gave the views of civil society, and reported back on the People's Consultations that have been taking place across the world.