UN arms treaty to save lives: NZ legislator

The head of New Zealand legislators Wednesday welcomed the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

New Zealand Member of Parliament and president of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), Ross Robertson, said the treaty would save lives by strengthening standards for the international trade and export of conventional weapons to conflict zones and regions vulnerable to conflict.

"While the ATT agreement does not contain everything that we had hoped for, treaty making is ultimately a process of compromise. With commitment and dedication from all, the ATT will save many, many lives," Robertson said in a statement.

The passage of the treaty followed a three-year campaign by the PGA, he said.

The next stage of the campaign would be the mobilization of PGA legislators worldwide to advocate for ratification of the ATT by their countries, to ensure that it entered into force as soon as possible.

The PGA would also work with its members around the world to draft the legislation necessary to implement the ATT.

The ATT, which also aims to eliminate the black market in weapons, is expected to enter into force 90 days after it is ratified by the 50th signatory.

It was put to a vote after Syria, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea prevented its adoption by consensus and it was passed by 154 votes to three, with 23 abstentions.