Benin to ratify Arms Trade Treaty

Benin's Parliament on Tuesday passed a resolution authorizing the government to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that was adopted in New York on March 28, 2013.

"The essential objectives of this treaty include prevention and elimination of illegal sale of conventional weapons and stop misuse of these weapons, with a view of contributing to international and regional peace, security and stability," the chairman of Parliament's Foreign Relations, Defense and Security Commission, Nassirou Bako-Arifari, said.

The treaty, he said, sets a much higher standard of operation regarding trade in weapons, especially small and light weapons.

Speaking to Xinhua, Bako-Arifari said by ratifying the treaty, Benin stands to benefit greatly, especially through reinforcement of its security equipment as well as through the treaty's capacity to contribute to prevention of terrorism in Africa and across the world.

"It will also prevent and eliminate illegal sale of light weapons in all its forms with support from the United Nations action plan," he said.

Source: XINHUA