REINVIGORATING THE NARRATIVE

THE BROADER BENEFITS OF THE ARMS TRADE TREATY INTRODUCTION

The vision of the Arms The rate at which states have To be globally effective, the treaty Trade Treaty is a noble one. adopted the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) must be widely adopted. Yet many surprised even its sponsors. Yet the states hold back, perhaps wondering Small arms kill more people treaty is often misunderstood and ‘How can we join the ATT if our than all other weapon systems misrepresented – by some, mistrusted. systems aren’t ready?’ (Why not combined. Each year as many Facts and answers can be found in a wait?) In reality, non-States Parties wide variety of sources, but until now are welcome, and indeed encouraged as 500,000 people are killed the treaty lacked a compendium. The to ‘come as you are’. Accession and in armed violence, 70,000 of full breadth of advantages offered by ratification are open to all, and once them in conflict zones. the ATT, plus an accessible description inside the ATT framework a new State of how it works had not been Party becomes eligible for capacity- assembled in a single, thoroughly building assistance. In coming years The ready availability of referenced source. every government will feel the impact lightweight illicit firearms of this global instrument. Only by To reinvigorate the ATT narrative, the taking a seat at the table can states enables child soldiers, Centre for Armed Violence Reduction influence its future direction. triggers refugee flows, and the Government of Australia now enables the drug trade, offer the publication Reinvigorating Download the Broader Benefits of the the Narrative: The Broader Benefits Arms Trade Treaty from: threatens the state and of the Arms Trade Treaty. http://www.armedviolencereduction.org/bbb/ disrupts human security. This treaty offers something for almost everyone. From arms traders to civil In 2016, the economic cost society activists, from governments of violence world-wide was and global development agencies to put at 13 per cent of GDP. the smallest of communities, from investors to tourists, the ATT promises improved human security, greater About 800,000 new guns are business certainty, more sustainable added each year to the global development and less personal stockpile of 875 million. suffering.

Photo: Australian Federal Police

Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty 2 SNAPSHOT THE BROADER BENEFITS OF THE ARMS TRADE TREATY

HUMAN SECURITY THE SDGs Enhances Atrocity Prevention Creates Stability for Development Combats Gender-Based Violence Advances Tourism Promotes International Humanitarian Law Advances Education Opportunities Saves Lives Expands Investment Opportunities Reduces Drivers of Refugee Flows Improves Public Health Reduces Poverty

NATIONAL SECURITY MARKET VALUE Enhances National Defence Supports Industry and Investor Stability Supports National Interests Creates Reliable Regulatory Standards Combats Unregulated Arms Flows Enhances Industry Reputation Complements Other Arms Agreements Provides Certainty for Importers and Exporters Weakens Black Market Supply

REGIONAL SECURITY GLOBAL COLLABORATION Creates a Framework for Regional Supports Relationship Building Engagement Generates Cooperation and Assistance Enhances Cross-Border Cooperation Opportunities

Provides a Seat at the Table Enhances Reputation

Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty 4 RESPONSIBLE TRADE A STEP-BY-STEP CHECKLIST

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4: PROHIBITIONS RISK ASSESSMENT MITIGATE RISKS AUTHORISE THE TRANSFER

Would the transfer violate Is there an ‘overriding’ risk that Are the risk/s mitigated Able to authorise the transfer, obligations under measures the transfer: sufficiently to make them less provide appropriate licence, adopted by the United than an ‘overriding’ risk? communicate effectively with Nations Security Council importer and any transit state NO YES YES acting under Chapter VII of NO and re-evaluate a transfer if the UN Charter? new information about risks 1. Would undermine peace arises and security? YES

NO Would the transfer violate relevant obligations under international agreements to 2. Could be used to commit which the State is a Party? or facilitate serious violations YES NO of international humanitarian law, international human YES rights law, terrorism or transnational organised crime?

NO Is there knowledge at the time of authorisation that the arms or items would be 3. Could be used to commit acts used in the commission of of gender-based violence or YES NO YES genocide, crimes against serious acts of violence humanity, or war crimes? against women? PROHIBIT NO ASSESS AUTHORISE Deny transfer until risks Must prohibit transfer Able to authorise transfer are mitigated

Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty 6 What Does the ATT Mean for What Does the ATT Mean for the What Does the ATT Mean for States? Arms Industry? Sustainable Development? The ATT recognises the sovereign The ATT is not a disarmament treaty. The ATT brings substantial support right of a state to regulate and Its function is to prevent the illicit to the attainment of the Sustainable control conventional arms exclusively trade of weapons across borders. Development Goals. By tackling the within its territory and recognises the The treaty recognises the legitimacy threat of illicit weapons and armed legitimate interests of a state in the of the arms trade and explicitly violence, the treaty promotes peaceful international trade in conventional guarantees the right of nations to societies and poverty alleviation. arms. States Parties to the ATT must regulate arms in their own territory By promoting national and regional establish and maintain a national as they see fit. The ATT supports stability, it aims to lessen the control system to regulate the export industry by providing market certainty impediments to tourism, investment, of conventional arms covered by the and gives reputable operators and health and education posed by treaty. States are invited to ‘come as traders an edge over less scrupulous armed actors and criminal violence. you are’ – to join the ATT immediately traders. Treaty compliance improves and then work towards compliance. corporate reputation, an asset valued Several states have already done this. by investors and clients. States can seek assistance to establish a national control system through the ATT’s Voluntary Trust Fund. What Does the ATT Mean for the What Does the ATT Mean for Responsibility to Protect? National and Regional Security? The ATT is a global mechanism which In no way does the ATT make it will help states prevent atrocities, harder for a state to defend itself. disarm child soldiers, reduce the By focussing on illicit trafficking of flow of displaced people and prevent arms and ammunition, the treaty gender-based violence. It strongly helps to protect national borders and reinforces human rights law and reinforces, rather than complicates, international humanitarian law. The existing arms agreements and the establishment of a national control legitimate trade in conventional system will curb the proliferation of weapons. By joining the ATT illicit weapons, thereby reduce armed community, even the smallest states violence and barriers to health and can contribute to regional security education, improve community and a more peaceful neighbourhood. UN Photo: Stuart Price safety and save lives.

Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty 8 The Centre for Armed Violence Reduction

The Centre for Armed Violence We deliver affordable, sustainable Reduction (CAVR), an international programmes, always in close non-governmental organisation collaboration with local stakeholders. provides evidence-based research and services to prevent and reduce armed With support from the United Nations violence as a necessary precondition Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation for effective and sustainable on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR), our development. In partnership with work has focused on applying global governments and civil society we arms control instruments–the Arms promote public health and safety Trade Treaty (ATT) and the United by analysing, encouraging and Nations small arms Programme of contributing to effective regional and Action (UNPoA)–predominantly national armed violence reduction in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and initiatives. A non-profit organisation, the Caribbean. We provide states the Centre facilitates implementation with full-scope support to enable of multilateral arms control them to understand the technical instruments by adapting their aims to requirements of international arms local needs, history and capacity. control instruments, to incorporate their provisions in national policies and We bring together officials and legal frameworks and to implement key actors to tackle armed violence compatible local arms control systems. prevention, using a ‘whole of government’ approach. The Centre The Centre for Armed Violence finds donors and provides training, Reduction is a charity registered capacity-building, technical expertise with the Australian Charities and and tools to help identify and fill Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), legislative, technical and policy ABN 62 161 762 778. gaps. Our evidence-based research and analysis is made actionable through context-specific policy recommendations determined by consensus.

Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty Reinvigorating the Narrative: The Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty 10 Download the Broader Benefits of the Arms Trade Treaty from: http://www.ArmedViolenceReduction.org/bbb/

[email protected] www.ArmedViolenceReduction.org Centre for Armed Violence Reduction CAVR and Australia support @Centre_AVR the Sustainable Development Goals