ROMA – The Tenth Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations began yesterday in Geneva. Trattato ATT (Arms Trade Treaty) which regulates the international trade and transfers of arms. Approved in 2103, thanks to the enormous information and pressure work of international civil society gathered in the campaign “Control arms” (of which also Peace Disarmament Network is part of), the Treaty then entered into force on Christmas Eve 2014 following the fiftieth ratification.
A milestone in international standards. This is a milestone in international law inspired by the so-called “humanitarian disarmament” since before that time there was no global law regulating the transfer of conventional weapons systems, which were instead left entirely at the mercy of the specific decisions of each individual State, as well as the interests of the military-industrial-financial complex.
Civilian populations pay the highest price. Today, civilians continue to suffer the tragic effects of war in many contexts. The use of sexual violence and starvation as weapons of war and the destruction of critical infrastructure are rampant. Major arms-exporting States would have a crucial role to play in encouraging compliance with international norms and standards. By ending the supply of weapons, ammunition, parts and components of weapons in contexts where there may be an undue risk of committing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, States would not only fulfil their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and customary international law, but could help prevent civilian suffering. Ending the supply of weapons to conflict zones is essential to protect civilians and uphold international law.
Some people respect it and some don’t. It should be recalled that the ATT Treaty requires States Parties (currently 115) and signatories (currently 27, while 53 countries have not yet joined in any way) to prohibit transfers of conventional weapons if they know that they would be used in attacks directed against civilian targets or used to commit or facilitate other war crimes. Before authorizing any transfer of weapons, the ATT – which Italy ratified in 2013 with a unanimous vote of the Parliament – also requires States Parties and signatories to assess the risk that exports of conventional weapons could undermine peace and security, or be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law or human rights.
No exports should be allowed. If there is a substantial risk of such adverse consequences, the State Party must not authorize the export. Hine-Wai Loose, Director of Control Arms, said: “The first decade of the Arms Trade Treaty has been overshadowed by persistent and serious violations of its provisions, as States Parties have too often prioritized political alliances and profits over human lives. Without respect and accountability, what is the value of international law?”
A trade that has regained strength. The international arms trade is in fact regaining strength, also due to the worsening of both conflicts between States and situations of structural violence and tension. This is highlighted by both data and news from too many conflict theatres. For these reasons, global civil society organisations have expressed concern that countries are not respecting the premises and promises of the ATT Treaty, conceived and developed with the hope of putting an end to the transfer of weapons used to commit human rights violations and undermine development. Despite some positive developments, in fact, in the last decade there have been numerous cases in which States Parties to the ATT and signatories have failed to live up to their obligations, in particular in relation to the central objective of the Treaty of reducing human suffering.
The minimum measure that should be respected. A key measure of compliance is whether arms transfers are stopped when evidence suggests they could be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian law. This has not happened in too many cases, including the conflicts in Yemen, Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, Iraq…“The ATT Treaty is a significant regulatory achievement, for which we have also worked hard in Italy,” underlines Francesco Vignarca, coordinator of the ATT campaigns. Peace Disarmament Network – But we must also highlight the failures of the States Parties, because many expectations of the Treaty remain unfulfilled. Compliance and implementation of the obligations set out in the text (including those of transparency) have left much to be desired and its concrete implementation must return to the center of attention in the second decade of the Treaty”.
The Italian law that they would like to dismantle. There are 80 organizations that have launched the mobilization in defense of law 185/1990 that the government wants to dismantle. The representatives of the 80 organizations of the Italian civil society met at the headquarters of Free in Rome to relaunch the mobilization in defense of the law that – precisely – regulates the trade and export of Italian weapons. This law – which had placed Italy at the forefront of the European panorama – is today the subject of a radical revision proposal put forward by the Government which aims to eliminate the main safeguards of transparency and parliamentary control over the production and export of Italian weapons to the rest of the world. The changes have already been approved by the Senate and are now being examined by the Chamber.
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– 2024-08-21 14:58:52
