In Memoriam On Tuesday, April 28 we learned that our friend and former colleague, Maribel Gonzales, had died at her home in Guelph, Ontario. Maribel worked with Project Ploughshares from 2008 until 2013. She quickly took charge of a project in the Caribbean, working with civil society organizations to address the plague of armed violence in their communities. Maribel coordinated …
Diminishing Transparency: Once in the top ten, Canada now ranks 24th among most transparent arms-exporting countries
Author Charmila Ireland In 2008 the United Nations Security Council recognized that “a core element in preventing conflict and securing peace and stability is encouraging predictable, transparent behaviour by all States.” Transparency in the small arms trade can build trust between nations and allow governments and civil society actors to identify trends, gaps, and problems. To achieve transparency, countries need …
Canada’s push into new arms markets
Author Kenneth Epps The Ploughshares Monitor Volume 34 Issue 3 Autumn 2013 A look at how the federal government is helping Canada’s military industry find new export customers Billed as the world’s leading defence and security event, the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in the United Kingdom showcases military equipment from around the world every two years. In early September 2013 …
A meaningful treaty at last
On April 2 the United Nations General Assembly approved by an overwhelming majority vote a historic global Arms Trade Treaty. Only three UN pariah states – Iran, North Korea and Syria – voted against it. The treaty is a milestone victory for the UN. More importantly, it is a new instrument of hope for the millions of people and thousands …
WCC and adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty
April 3, 2013 Public comment on the adoption of the world’s first Arms Trade Treaty We give thanks to God for the adoption of the world’s first Arms Trade Treaty and for the efforts by a large majority of countries and many civil society groups to bring it into existence. The affirmative vote by 155 countries at the United Nations …
Arms Trade Treaty adopted
April 3,2013 For immediate release Project Ploughshares is celebrating the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty at the UN in New York on April 2. The 193-nation UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved this first and only treaty on regulating the trade in conventional arms ranging from light weapons to jet fighters and warships. One hundred fifty-five votes were cast in …
States vote overwhelmingly for ground-breaking Arms Trade Treaty
April 2, 2013 Control Arms For immediate release Governments called on to immediately start the signing and ratification process New York: Campaigners today say the vote for the first ever global treaty to regulate the international arms trade marks ‘an incredible moment’ signalling the dawn of a new era. The Control Arms coalition says the landmark vote sends a clear …
A last push for an effective global arms trade treaty
Authors Kenneth Epps, Mark Fried, Hilary Homes, Lina Holguin. Published by Embassy, an Ottawa-based foreign policy weekly. Now is the time for active diplomacy by Canada and others. Next week the world’s diplomats convene in New York to hammer out the final details on a global treaty to keep weapons and ammunition out of the hands of criminals, abusive regimes, …
Canada and the brokering provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty
Briefing 13-2 Author Kenneth Epps Canada will join other UN member states for the “final” negotiations of an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in March 2013. Canadian opposition to a brokering provision of the draft treaty text undermines its international commitments to control brokering and ignores related national regulatory standards. Canada’s particular concern about “extraterritorial” jurisdiction would be addressed by …
Arms Trade Treaty: Briefing document
March 2013 Click here for PDF version Click here for PDF French version Armed violence kills up to 2,000 people every day and keeps millions more living in fear or poverty. This violence is fuelled by the poorly regulated global trade in arms and ammunition that enables weapons to be used for war crimes, acts of terrorism and human rights …