UNITAR Workshop: Key Issues for the Negotiation of the Arms Trade Treaty

Back

Type:

Workshop

Specific Target Audience:

Core Diplomatic Training

Date:

10 Feb - 10 Feb 2012

Duration of event:

1 day

Location:

Office of the Permanent Observer of the African Union, United States

Programme area:

Peace Security and Diplomacy, International Law, Multilateral Diplomacy

Fee:

No fee

Website:

www.unitar.org/ny

Event focal point email:

info@unitarny.org

Other events details:

How to register

The registration is closed

Background

The poorly regulated global trade in arms, visible in large parts of the world in the easy access to guns, low weapons prices, and illicit trafficking of small arms, adds fuel to the fire of violent conflicts worldwide and destabilizes fragile states and regions. In 2006, the UN General Assembly addressed this problem in Resolution 61/89, calling for a “comprehensive, legally binding instrument” to establish “common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms”—the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In July 2012, after 6 years of intensive preparations, the international community will gather in New York to finally negotiate the ATT under UN auspices.

This UNITAR workshop seeks to support the preparation process in the run-up to the ATT conference in July 2012. The complexity of the subject makes it difficult for many delegations to actively participate in the negotiations and substantially contribute to the outcome. UNITAR therefore aims to provide delegates, especially from developing and least developed countries, with the necessary background to play an active role in this February’s Preparatory Committee Session and in the ATT negotiations in July. The workshop will explore the rationale for an Arms Trade Treaty and shed light on the central issues still under discussion, such as scope, criteria, implementation and capacity challenges. In this way, the workshop will enable delegates to think critically about global arms trade and enhance their capacities to apply this knowledge for making informed decisions in the upcoming rounds of negotiations for the Arms Trade Treaty.

Learning Objectives

The workshop on Negotiating the Arms Trade Treaty is to provide delegates in Permanent Missions of Member States in New York with an opportunity to examine in greater depth the issues central to the ATT negotiations in July and the PrepCom in February.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

Better understand key issues related to the scope and criteria of an Arms Trade Treaty
Think critically about national implementation of the ATT and how the ATT will differ from existing international obligations
Identify main challenges for the ATT negotiations, including capacity challenges for implementing and reporting on an ATT
Discuss opportunities for capacity building within the ATT

Content and Structure

The workshop consists of four sessions on the following topics:

Session I: Understanding the ATT: Essential Information on the Scope and Criteria of the proposed ATT
Session II: National Implementation of the ATT: What will be required and how will the ATT differ from existing international obligations?
Session III: Capacity Challenges for Implementing and Reporting on an ATT
Session IV: Opportunities for Capacity Building within the ATT

The workshop will be a full-day course, from 9.45 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. There will be a lunch break from 12.30 to 1.30 and a coffee break in the afternoon. Lunch and coffee will be served.

Methodology

The workshop combines a mix of methodologies, including presentations, panels, interactive discussions, and case-studies. Among the guest speakers, the workshop features senior officials from UN agencies, Member States, as well as NGO and experts on the topic of arms trade.

Targeted Audience

This course is open members of the Permanent Missions accredited to UN Headquarters and other government officials; representatives of international, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations, and other interested individuals. Priority is given to delegates from developing and least developed countries.