The General Assembly has defined the aim of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) as a “legally binding treaty establishing common standards on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms” and, amongst other things, for States “to ensure that their national systems and internal controls are at the highest possible standards to prevent the diversion of conventional arms from the legal to the illicit market, where they can be used for terrorist acts, organized crime and other criminal activities.”
As such, one of the foundations of the ATT must be the requirement of States Parties to take measures to implement a comprehensive system to control the export, import and transfer of conventional arms. Such a comprehensive system should include provisions on:
- Standard elements in national licensing or authorization systems;
- End-use and end-user assurances;
- Delivery verification;
- implified procedures;
- Brokering and brokering activities controls;
- Security measures;
- and Criminalisation provisions.
