The Asia Pacific Regional Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
26-27 February 2009

Chair's Summary

The Asia Pacific Regional Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Oxfam on the 26th and 27th of February 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Ambassador Nobuyasu Abe, Director of the Center for the Promotion of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, JIIA, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN for Disarmament Affairs, served as the chair of the conference. The following is a chair's summary of the proceedings.

Participants shared information on existing obligations, state practices and international and regional initiatives affecting international arms transfers, and exchanged views on the problems caused by irresponsible arms transfers from various aspects. It was mentioned that the idea for an ATT had a decades long history and that the intention of an ATT was to create a set of legally binding universal standards and common criteria that are implemented by all states when they import, export or transfer conventional weapons.

Participants recognized the impact of the irresponsible arms trade in parts of the region and identified a number of challenges in the Asia Pacific region: examples of impact came from East Timor and the Philippines amongst others, and the range of security problems and the extent of arms transfers in the region meant the Asia Pacific region is a microcosm of the global arms trade. Participants discussed the importance of overcoming the security dilemma in which states that sought arms for security may well undermine their own security in the regional context through the purchase of those arms.

It was recognized that whilst the Asia Pacific region faced the challenge of a lack of regional arms control agreements, and stalemate in some areas of disarmament, there was action being taken in accordance with agreements like Ottawa and Oslo, and there was significant support in the region for the ATT resolution at the UN GA. It was noted that even states that were not party to the arms controls agreements had adapted their behavior in accordance with these controls.

In addition, participants discussed the impact of arms transfers on poverty reduction and socio-economic development. It was pointed out that irresponsible arms transfers can cause the exacerbation of conflict, serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and aggravate poverty, and the undesirable diversion of resources from education, medical care and welfare as well.

Participants gave useful suggestions how to deal with these complicated issues in future discussions on an ATT. It was recognized that the Open Ended Working Group in New York was a real opportunity to hear from all states in the process as well as civil society and that it marked a new stage emerging from the GGE whilst building on agreement that the ATT be in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. Whilst it was recognized that all states need to be involved in discussions around an ATT, it was also felt that the dilemma of consensus can sometimes push the process outside the UN.

Participants noted various elements for consideration during an arms transfer, including existing states obligations regarding UN Security Council Resolutions imposing arms embargoes, international humanitarian law, international human rights law, the risk of undermining poverty reduction and socio-economic development, the risk of diversion to armed crime or terrorism, and the impact on regional security. Participants also recognized the importance of establishing objective criteria in an ATT.

Participants confirmed the importance of discussing an ATT in the framework of the UN, and recognized the importance of involving all stakeholders in consideration of arms transfer issues, including all states involved in arms imports, exports and transfer, the arms industry and civil society across the globe.