Industry: master piece in the struggle against illegal trafficking of dual use items (Mehdi Mekdour)

The illegal exports of dual use items pose a major risk to the struggle against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Faced with this danger, public authorities have adopted new policies, progressively paying more attention to the role of exporting companies. In particular the latter are requested to become more aware of their duties in matter of illegal exports of dual use items. Their commitments take the shape of “internal compliance programmes” initiated by some companies. Belgian companies also need to comply with this new dynamic.

The arms trade treaty. Challenges for 2012 (Virginie Moreau)

Illegal trafficking and irresponsible arms transfers are a threat to peace and security. Their consequences are often measured in terms of human losses and development in many parts of the world. Yet so far there is still no international instrument to regulate the international transfers of conventional weapons.

Through combined efforts of civil society and some governments, the need to address this lack of global common standards has gradually become selfevident for States. In December 2006 the United Nations (UN) passed a resolution to initiate a process in order to lead to the development of an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Five years later, the process is close to be fulfilled. An international UN Conference will be held in July 2012 to negotiate and, in principle, adopt a Treaty.

This report provides an overview of this historical process and examines in particular the work of the Preparatory Committee of the international Conference, which met three times between July 2011 and July 2012. This report attempts to identify key issues for the final round of negotiations on an ATT in July 2012.