UN Adopts First Arms-Trade Regulation Treaty
The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the first treaty
on global arms trade aimed at keeping weapons away from terrorists and
war criminals.
The assembly voted 154-3 for a resolution. Iran, North Korea, and Syria voted no. Twenty-three countries, including Russia, abstained.
Once ratified by at least 50 signatories, the treaty would officially ban conventional weapons manufacturers from directly selling arms to anyone who may be suspected of crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calls the treaty strong, effective and implementable. He says it protects a nations' right to conduct a legitimate arms trade.
The treaty is intended to regulate the $80 billion-a-year conventional arms trade. The treaty will not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it requires countries to establish national laws to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components, and to regulate arms brokers.
The treaty only covers conventional arms, which range from small arms to battle tanks and warships.
The treaty prohibits transferring conventional weapons if it violates arms embargoes or if it would promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. It also prohibits the export of conventional arms to be used in attacks on civilians or civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals.
The treaty says a country must evaluate whether an exported weapon would be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian laws or be used by terrorists or organized crime. Countries must also determine whether the weapons transfer would contribute to or undermine peace and security.
The assembly voted 154-3 for a resolution. Iran, North Korea, and Syria voted no. Twenty-three countries, including Russia, abstained.
Once ratified by at least 50 signatories, the treaty would officially ban conventional weapons manufacturers from directly selling arms to anyone who may be suspected of crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calls the treaty strong, effective and implementable. He says it protects a nations' right to conduct a legitimate arms trade.
The treaty is intended to regulate the $80 billion-a-year conventional arms trade. The treaty will not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it requires countries to establish national laws to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components, and to regulate arms brokers.
The treaty only covers conventional arms, which range from small arms to battle tanks and warships.
The treaty prohibits transferring conventional weapons if it violates arms embargoes or if it would promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. It also prohibits the export of conventional arms to be used in attacks on civilians or civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals.
The treaty says a country must evaluate whether an exported weapon would be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian laws or be used by terrorists or organized crime. Countries must also determine whether the weapons transfer would contribute to or undermine peace and security.
fuente La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/un-adopts-first-armstrade-regulation-treaty/1633275.html
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