Secretary-General calls for action on arms trade treaty
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weapons collected from illegally armed groups
UN member states and civil society groups are meeting in New York to negotiate a treaty regulating the conventional arms trade.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking on Tuesday called the historic event important and impressive, but long overdue.
He said with military spending topping US $1 trillion annually, the world is over-armed, meanwhile peace is under-funded.
"Poorly regulated international arms transfers are fuelling civil conflicts, destabilizing regions, and empowering terrorists and criminal networks. Addressing the threat of conventional weapons should not be an unconventional act by the international community. Together, we must act.” (Duration: 23″)
Mr. Ban said a "robust and legally binding" arms trade treaty will have a real impact on the lives of millions of people suffering from the consequences of armed conflict, repression and armed violence.
