Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at a special ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York, making a historic contribution to the treaty entering into force by the end of the year, said the Landmine Survivors Initiative.
Fifty states were required to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) before the 90-day countdown to entry into force could begin.
Today, eight countries, including Argentina, Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Senegal, Uruguay, and Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the ATT at a special ceremony at United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing the total number of ratifications to 53.
Activists and advocates gathered around Control Arms – a global coalition for arms control, welcomed this event as a historic moment noting that 50 countries that were the first to ratify the ATT showed political leadership and maturity in ensuring that ATT enters into force on 24 December 2014 – just 18 months after it opened for signing in June 2013.
Another two countries, Georgia and Namibia signed the Treaty today, bringing the total number of states signatories to 121.
ATT is the first global treaty of its kind that regulates trade in arms and ammunition, whose annual value surpasses 85 billion USD.
Nearly 2,000 people are injured every day as a result of armed violence while millions of others live in fear of abuse and displacement caused by weapons that end up in the wrong hands.
According to UNHCR, more than 50 million people worldwide were forced to flee their homes in 2013.
ATT provides that state, before the trade in weapons is approved, must assess the risks that arms and ammunition are not misused for human rights violations and breaches of humanitarian law.
After ATT enters into force, the next big challenge will be strong implementation of the treaty.
Since only 90 days has left before ATT become internationally binding law, NGO Landmine Survivors Initiatives, a member of the Control Arms, reminds that Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed the ATT on 25 September 2013 and with today’s ratification it has given the historical contribution to its entry into force by the end of the year and to regional and international peace building, security and stability. Congratulations to the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina on their effort to ratify the treaty, stated the Landmine Survivors Initiatives.
(Source: Fena)
