Belgium joins UN Arms Trade Treaty

Belgium ratified the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) yesterday at UN headquarters in New York, reports the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Belgium was one of eight countries yesterday to sign the landmark UN treaty with an aim to regulate the multibillion-dollar global arms trade.

Forty countries have ratified the Treaty so far, and just 10 more countries are needed before the agreement goes into force.

The Convention sets out criteria for international arms transactions, especially with respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. Arms export is prohibited if there is a risk that the weapons would be used for genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The ATT also takes into account the risk of violence against women and children, and contains provisions designed to prevent weapons from ending up in the illegal circuit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders stressed that the Treaty is a major step forward in the regulation of the international arms trade and the fight against the illicit arms trade. He calls upon states that have not yet ratified the Treaty to do so.