Your browser version is outdated. We recommend that you update your browser to the latest version.

International Instruments Signed/Ratified/Accessioned

  1. The ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms
  2. The Arms Trade Treaty
  3.  UNPoA on SALW
  4. The International Tracing Instrument

 

The ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and their Other Related Materials (ECOWAS Convention on SALW)

 

The ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and their Other Related Materials (ECOWAS Convention on SALW) succeeded the ECOWAS Moratorium, which represents a political engagement adopted in 1998. Because of the importance of the issue and the lack of efficiency of the Moratorium due to its voluntary nature, ECOWAS decided in 2003 in Dakar to transform it into a legally binding Convention and to strengthen the capacity of the ECOWAS’ Commission in the fight against illicit SALW. This process received contributions from several actors, including external partners and civil society in West Africa.

The Convention is a legally binding instrument adopted in 14th June, 2006 in Abuja (Nigeria) which entered into force on 29th September, 2009, after ten member states had ratified the Convention. It draws its strength from Article 58 of the revised ECOWAS’ Treaty relating to regional security. The text is structured around a Preamble and 7 chapters divided into 32 articles.

The Convention on SALW is harmonizing the understanding of certain key terms using definitions approved/validated at international level, e.g. small arms and light weapons, illegal, marking, tracing, brokering, transfer, non-state actors, etc. This common understanding will facilitate the following objectives: - prevent and combat the excessive accumulation of SALW; - sustaining the fight for control of SALW in the ECOWAS region; - Consolidate the gains of the Moratorium on SALW. Sierra Leone is a founding member.

(Source: https://www.unrec.org/docs/harm/ECOWAS/In%20brief_ECOWAS%20Convention.pdf )

 

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) establishes common standards for the international trade of conventional weapons and seeks to reduce the illicit arms trade. The treaty aims to reduce human suffering caused by illegal and irresponsible arms transfers, improve regional security and stability, as well as to promote accountability and transparency by state parties concerning transfers of conventional arms. The ATT does not place restrictions on the types or quantities of arms that may be bought, sold, or possessed by states. It also does not impact a state’s domestic gun control laws or other firearm ownership policies.

 

After nearly two decades of advocacy and diplomacy, a UN conference was convened to negotiate the ATT in July 2012, but fell short of reaching consensus on a final text. Another two week-long conference was convened in March 2013 to complete work on the treaty. However, Iran, North Korea, and Syria blocked consensus on the final treaty text, leading treaty supporters to move it to the UN General Assembly on for approval. On April 2, 2013, the UN General Assembly endorsed the ATT by a vote of 156-3, with 23 abstentions. The treaty opened for signature on June 3, 2013, and entered into force on Dec. 23, 2014.

 

  • The Arms Trade Treaty requires all states-parties to adopt basic regulations and approval processes for the flow of weapons across international borders, establishes common international standards that must be met before arms exports are authorized, and requires annual reporting of imports and exports to a treaty secretariat. In particular, the treaty:
  • requires that states “establish and maintain a national control system, including a national control list” and “designate competent national authorities in order to have an effective and transparent national control system regulating the transfer of conventional arms”;
  • prohibits arms transfer authorizations to states if the transfer would violate “obligations under measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular arms embargoes” or under other “relevant international obligations” or if the state “has knowledge at the time of authorization that the arms or items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians protected as such, or other war crimes”;
  • requires states to assess the potential that the arms exported would “contribute to or undermine peace and security” or could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, acts of terrorism, or transnational organized crime; to consider measures to mitigate the risk of these violations; and, if there still remains an “overriding risk” of “negative consequences,” to “not authorize the export”;
  • applies under Article 2(1) to all conventional arms within the seven categories of the UN Register of Conventional Arms (battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, and missiles and missile launchers) and small arms and light weapons;
  • requires that states “establish and maintain a national control system to regulate the export of ammunition/munitions fired, launched or delivered by” the conventional arms listed in Article 2(1) and “parts and components…that provide the capability to assemble” the conventional arms listed in that article;
  • requires each state to “take the appropriate measures, pursuant to its national laws, to regulate brokering taking place under its jurisdiction” of conventional arms covered under Article 2(1);
  • requires each state to “take measures to prevent…diversion” of conventional arms covered under Article 2(1);
  • requires each state to submit annually to the treaty secretariat a report of the preceding year’s “authorized or actual export and imports of conventional arms covered under Article 2(1)” and allows states to exclude “commercially sensitive or national security information”

    (Source: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/arms_trade_treaty )

Follow this link for more information on Activities undertaken by the commission for full ATT compliance

 

 

The United Nations Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons

The 2001 Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects (PoA) was adopted by consensus on 20 July 2001. The PoA makes reference to the 2001 Firearms Protocol to the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime. Its implementation has led to the negotiation of other agreements both at the regional and global level, such as the 2005 International Tracing Instrument.

The Programme of Action is a policy framework containing political commitments by states to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. It is a detailed instrument, covering production/manufacturing, stockpiling and possession, international transfers, illicit transfers and law enforcement, collection and destruction. It calls for action at national, regional and global levels, and sets an agenda for the UN process on small arms control.

(Source: http://www.weaponslaw.org/instruments/2001-un-programme-of-action-on-small-arms)

 

 

The International Tracing Instrument

The International Tracing Instrument is a politically binding instrument outlining requirements on marking, record-keeping, and international cooperation and assistance that will enable tracing illicit small arms and light weapons.

The International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons was adopted on 8 December 2005. The instrument was developed within the policy framework established by the 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms, and makes reference to the 2001 Firearms Protocol, of which it echoes many provisions.

(Source: http://www.weaponslaw.org/instruments/2005-international-tracing-instrument)

Related Documents

The ECOWAS Convention on SALW

The Arms Trade Treaty

UNPoA on SALW

The ITI