Abstract

The first Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) of the United Nations Conference for an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was held in New York from 12 to 23 July 2010, four years after the first UN resolution on this issue. Even though no actual element of a Treaty has been negotiated yet during this first PrepCom, the meeting is considered generally positive. Indeed the very principle of a treaty on arms trade has now been accepted by all States. Nevertheless, one question remained at the end of the meeting: what kind of an ATT will it be? The work is just beginning and much remains to be done, but the first step has been encouraging.

Keywords: Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, conventional arms, United Nations, arms transfers, Preparatory Committee, Prepcom.