Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty by an overwhelming majority. For the first time, the Treaty sets international rules for the transfer of conventional arms. Together with its EU partners, Austria strongly supported the ATT process and was among the first Signatory States. Austria signed the ATT on 3 June 2013 and ratified it, exactly one year later, on 3 June 2014 in New York. For an update on signatures/ratification, please refer to the UNODA website or to the homepage of the ATT secretariat.

The aim of the Treaty is to determine the highest possible common international standards for the transfer of conventional arms. The Treaty shall contribute to combat and respectively limit the negative consequences of illicit and irresponsible arms trade on stability, security and human rights. The Treaty shall thus foster sustainable economic and development policies. Arms exports will be prohibited in cases of grave violations of International Humanitarian Law and human rights. For decisions on export applications, parameters such as peace and security, the risk of diversion (including exchange of information on corrupt practices) and gender-based violence must be taken into account. However, the ATT does not contain a prohibition of weapons, nor a requirement to destroy existing weapons stockpiles. It thus upholds the right of States to self-defence, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Austria advocates for a strong ATT, notably with regard to the best possible standards, both within the context of the United Nations and at European and bilateral level. These standards shall include in particular binding licensing criteria reflecting human rights norms, a universal scope of the Treaty as well as efficient implementation mechanisms.