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On 2 April 2013 the UN General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with 154 in favour, 3 against and 23 abstentions. The treaty will be opened for signature on 3 June 2013 and it will enter into force once fifty states have ratified it.

The ATT is the first treaty to attempt to regulate the global transfer of conventional arms (and ammunitions). Despite some flaws, it represents a milestone in the quest to prevent illicit and irresponsible transfer of arms to countries where they can be used for the commission of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations.

The adoption of the ATT represents the culmination of two decades campaigning by a significant number of human rights and humanitarian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and those governments that champion it. Despite a growing consensus among governments of the need to regulate the international arms trade, negotiations were often difficult, at various points reaching almost breaking point. Final proof of that came with the failure of the Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty to reach consensus on the text.

Child Soldiers International welcomes the adoption of the ATT. Once entered into force and if effectively implemented, the ATT could prevent the flow of arms to armed actors who unlawfully recruit children or use them to participate in hostilities.

For more information please download the report.