Global legislators group warns against complacency over arms trade treaty

The head of an international group of legislators has called on governments that have signed the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to ratify the agreement as soon as possible. The signing of a landmark arms trade treaty by 111 United Nations member states, and its ratification by seven nations, in less than 15 weeks since it opened for signature was an extraordinary accomplishment, said Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) President Ross Robertson. "However, this is not a time for complacency," Robertson, who is also a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, said in a statement Friday. "With thousands of men, women and children around the world continuing to die or be seriously injured every day on account of the inadequate regulation of the international arms trade, it is important that all UN member states, including New Zealand, take steps to ratify the ATT as soon as possible," he said. "New Zealand's signing is a strong message of support, and now that Samoa has also signed PGA calls on other Pacific states to follow suit," he said. "Implementation of the ATT must, and will, determine its long term successful legacy.