Croatia"s permanent representative to the UN Vladimir Drobnjak 2 April deposited its instrument on the ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty. Another 17 states deposited their ratification instruments at a ceremony in New York attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, whereby all the conditions have been met for the Arms Trade Treaty to go into force.
The Arms Trade Treaty is the first global legal instrument on conventional arms that was successfully agreed under the UN"s auspices. It was open for signing in June 2013 and has been signed by 118 countries. Under its provisions, it can go into force after 15 member states have deposited their ratification instruments. So far nine states have done so, and today that number has grown to 27.
Apart from Croatia, the ratification instruments were deposited by Bulgaria, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The Arms Trade Treaty regulates the international trade in conventional arms, including export, import and transit, and strengthens international cooperation and assistance. It incorporates the main principles of international legal frameworks on humanitarian law and human rights. Its enforcement will change the arms trade in order to further hinder the sale of arms and ammunition to terrorists, organised criminals, smugglers and paramilitary forces.
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