International Arms Trade Treaty negotiations underway at UN
No globally agreed standards exist for the international arms trade
For the first time, United Nations member states are gathering to negotiate a treaty regulating international arms trade.
Virtually all international trade in goods is regulated, but no globally agreed standards exist for the international arms trade. The UN says the result can be the misuse of transferred weaponry by government forces, or diversion of arms into illegal markets, where they end up in the hands of criminals, gangs, war lords and terrorists.
The proposed treaty would be legally-binding and would set international standards to regulate the import, export and transfer of conventional weapons.
The meeting and negotiations are scheduled to last through the end of July.
