Holy See Statement on the Third Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference
on the Arms Trade Treaty
Holy See Statement on the Third Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference
on the Arms Trade Treaty (New York, 11-15 July 2011)
New York, NY,
July 20 – The Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Arms
Trade Treaty (ATT) held its third session in New York from 11 to 15 July 2011. The
Holy See actively participated in the deliberations with a Delegation comprised of
Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Mr. Paolo
Conversi, Official of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of
State, Msgr. Mauro Cionini, Secretary of the Observer Mission, and the Mission’s experts
on disarmament affairs, Br. David Carroll, Mr. Dave Robinson and Mrs. Joan McGrath
Triulzi.
1. In 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations requested
countries to submit their views on the drafting of a Treaty on arms trade. More than
100 countries presented their views which were collected in a 2007 report by the Secretary-General
on the issue. Successively, in 2008 a Group of Governmental Experts produced a second
report on the topic.
At the end of 2009 the General Assembly decided to convene
a Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty in 2012 "to elaborate a legally binding instrument
on the highest possible common international standards for the transfer of conventional
arms". The General Assembly also indicated that four sessions of the Open-ended Working
Group will be held as Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) sessions in preparation for
the Conference. The first PrepCom took place in July 2010. In 2011, two other PrepComs
were held: 28 February-4 March and 11-15 July. A fourth PrepCom is scheduled for 13-17
February 2012, before the expected adoption of the Treaty by the Conference. 2.
In many parts of the world, the illicit trade of weapons and ammunition has led to
human suffering, internal conflicts, civil unrest, human rights violations, humanitarian
crises, crime, violence and terror. In fact, the international community is confronted
with irresponsible arms deals in several places around the globe. Although an eclectic
set of national and regional control measures on arms transfers exists, the global
trade in conventional weapons – from warships and battle tanks to fighter jets and
machine guns – remains unregulated in the absence of a set of internationally-agreed
standards. Therefore, the Holy See has participated in the negotiations on the Treaty
from the very beginning.
3. The Holy See recognizes the great importance
of the current ATT process as it addresses in particular the grave human cost resulting
from the illicit trade in arms. Non-regulated and non-transparent arms trading and
the absence of effective monitoring systems for arms trading at the international
level cause serious humanitarian consequences, slow down integral human development,
undermine the rule of law, increase conflicts and instability around the globe, endanger
peace-building processes in various countries and spawn a culture of violence and
impunity. Here we should always bear in mind the grave repercussions of illicit trade
in arms on peace, development, human rights and the humanitarian situation, especially
the deep impact it leaves on women and children. These issues can be effectively solved
only through the common sharing of responsibilities by all members of the international
community.
4. Conventional arms and weapons, small or light, should not be
regarded as any other kind of merchandise that is put on sale in global, regional
or national markets. Their production, trade and possession have ethical and social
implications. They need to be regulated in accordance with specific principles of
the moral and legal order. Every effort is required to prevent the proliferation of
all types of weapons which encourage local wars and urban violence and kill too many
people in the world every day. Hence, the urgency for the adoption of a legal instrument,
which the Holy See fully supports, with legally binding measures on trade control
for conventional weapons and munitions on the global, regional and national levels.
5. The international community needs a strong, credible, effective and concrete
legal instrument so as to improve transparency in arms trade, promote the adoption
of common criteria for arms trade control and establish a binding legal framework
for regulating the trade of conventional weapons and munitions as well as the trading
and licensing of technologies for their production.
6. The outcome of the
current ATT process will put to test the political will and the credible willingness
of States to assume their moral and legal responsibility in order to strengthen further
the international regime on the existing unregulated arms trade. Focusing on the magnitude
of those affected and those suffering from the scourge of the illicit spread of arms
and munitions should challenge the international community to achieve an effective
and enforceable Arms Trade Treaty. Exporting and importing States should put in force
obligatory, transparent, verifiable and universal regulatory norms and mechanisms
to curb the illegal arms trade by applying effective record-keeping and reporting
systems through efficient international assistance and cooperation and improved trust-based
relationships among States. Exporting and importing States have also an important
role to play by precluding any potential for corruption and by monitoring compliance
with international trade rules by arms industries and arms brokers.
7. To
achieve a strong, effective and comprehensive ATT, the international community should
not neglect the importance of victim assistance and compensation. The main objective
of an ATT must be to safeguard human life and to build a world more respectful of
human dignity, not just to regulate the illicit trade in arms. An ATT must also challenge
the approach of “business as usual” which has provided for continuing violations of
civilian immunity in conflict situations. Acting responsibly means promoting a real
culture of peace and life. In this vein, it is also important to promote education
in peace and public awareness programmes involving all sectors of our society, including
religious organizations.
8. The Holy See is convinced that an Arms Trade Treaty
can make an important contribution to the promotion of a true global culture of peace
through responsible cooperation of States, in partnership and solidarity with the
arms industry and in solidarity with civil society. In this
perspective,
the current efforts to adopt an Arms Trade Treaty could indeed become an auspicious
sign of a much needed political will of nations and governments to ensure greater
peace, justice, stability and prosperity in the world.
9. As Pope Benedict
XVI stated: “The time has come to change the course of history, to recover trust,
to cultivate dialogue, to nourish solidarity. These are the noble objectives that
inspired the founders of the United Nations Organization, a real experience of friendship
among peoples. Humanity's future depends on everyone's commitment. Only by following
an integral and supportive humanism in whose context the question of disarmament takes
on an ethical and spiritual nature, will humanity be able to walk towards the desired
authentic and lasting peace (International seminar on “Disarmament, Development and
Peace, Prospects for Integral Disarmament”, 10 April 2008).