This week in Geneva, states, international organisations, and civil society came together for the 11th Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), under the presidency of Argentina.
The theme of this year’s meeting – “the universalisation of the ATT as a priority” – highlighted the urgent need for more states to join and implement the Treaty, the world’s first legally binding framework to regulate the international trade in conventional arms, which came into force in 2014.
From the outset, Ambassador Carlos Foradori, President of this year’s conference, underlined the importance of the ATT not only as a treaty of rules and obligations, but as a humanitarian instrument designed to protect people, strengthen international security, and promote peace. Youth engagement and the voices of the next generation were also recognised as vital in shaping a safer future.
MAG at the 11th Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty
MAG delivered a statement reflecting our longstanding role in supporting states and communities affected by armed violence and weapons proliferation.
Across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific, MAG works alongside national authorities to strengthen ATT implementation. At the same time, we engage with states not yet party to the Treaty, using regular dialogue through our field activities as an entry point to demonstrate the Treaty’s value.
In our statement, we welcomed the European Union’s renewed commitment, as well as the proactive efforts of the ATT Secretariat to more effectively connect states with technical expertise, resources, and support.
We also underlined the critical role of regional organisations – including the EU, AU, OAS, RECSA, ECOWAS, and CARICOM – in ensuring that global discussions on arms control reflect regional realities and needs. MAG values these partnerships deeply and their continued efforts to maintain political will, support coordination, and ensure overall sustainability of ATT implementation.
Planning for the long term
Another important debate at the conference focused on how to ensure long-term planning and consistency across successive presidencies. MAG welcomed the UK’s proposal for a five-year strategy, which could help strengthen the ATT’s ability to deliver over time.
We also encouraged States Parties to draw on lessons learned from other disarmament fora and explore synergies with frameworks such as the Global Framework on Ammunition.
Challenging funding environment
At this week’s conference, MAG also highlighted the challenges of a difficult global funding environment. Despite budget pressures on ATT operations, it is vital that arms control and armed violence reduction remain a priority, with adequate support for efforts across all regions to ensure progress is preserved.
Keeping humanitarian principles at the core
For MAG, the humanitarian objectives of the ATT remain central. The Treaty exists to prevent arms from fuelling conflict and instability, and to protect lives and livelihoods.
In this spirit, we welcomed Mexico’s initiative to establish gender focal points within the ATT framework, an important step towards ensuring the full and meaningful participation of women and girls. This is especially timely in 2025, the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Looking ahead
MAG has been engaged in the ATT process since its negotiation more than a decade ago. This week, we reaffirmed our commitment to its humanitarian purpose and to advancing universalisation.
The road ahead will require persistence, resources, and political will, but the conference showed that governments, international organisations, and civil society share the expertise and determination to move it forward.
MAG will continue to play our part, supporting states in implementation, advocating for universalisation, and ensuring that the humanitarian purpose of the ATT is never forgotten.
