Now is the time for an Arms Trade Treaty

Tweet

Breaking news from the UN

On April 2, 2013, delegates from 154 nations, including the US, voted to adopt the first-ever international Arms Trade Treaty. Tens of thousands of you urged our government to support this historic treaty. Thank you for helping make the world a safer place.

What is the international Arms Trade Treaty?

The treaty is a legally binding agreement between nations that would prevent the irresponsible sale of weapons across borders. It would keep those weapons out of the hands of war criminals and those fueling conflict and poverty.

Why do we need an international Arms Trade Treaty?

The global trade in weapons is massive and poorly regulated. Manufacturers produce about eight million new small arms a year and 10 billion or more units of ammunition. While the US has some of the most stringent standards for the international transfer of weapons, weak laws in many other countries allow unscrupulous brokers to traffic across borders, making it easy for war lords and human rights abusers to buy and use guns and bullets.

Who does an international Arms Trade Treaty help?

Wherever you are in the world, a few minutes with the latest news report will tell you who could be helped by an Arms Trade Treaty. You may hear of conflict in Mali, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo that has forced countless families to flee their homes, leaving behind their work and belongings for futures of uncertainty and hardship. The massive and poorly regulated global trade in arms feeds conflicts like these, and threatens the security and rights of people around the world on a daily basis. A treaty would help keep millions of them safer.