Arms Trade Treaty

The workshop provides the opportunity for participants to share and exchange views, information and experience to improve the existing domestic mechanisms to effectively address the ATT issue in PNG in domesticating the treaty when ratified.

The Arms Trade Treaty falls within the ambit of United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) that came into force on the 29^th September 2003.

Representing Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at the 71st United Nations General Assembly, Minister for Public Service Sir Puka Temu said PNG is concerned that despite all efforts, the international community, is unable to contain the ongoing wars based on economic, religious, ethnic, and other causes, including acts of terrorism.

“My government is hopeful that the high-level meetings over this past year will help address many of the root causes of conflict.

Campaigners say the Pacific has a critical role to play at the first conference where representatives from around 120 states including Palau, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and Samoa meeting to make practical decisions on how to ensure the new treaty which entered into force in December 2014, transforms the global arms trade and save lives for years to come.

Tonga is neither a state party nor a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty.