India to gain from global Arms Trade Treaty says Oxfam

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) India will benefit from the proposed global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), expected to be tabled for discussion at the United National General Assembly next month, according to an Oxfam policy briefing paper.

India must champion the Treaty to protect its citizens and promote global peace and security, said the paper, released here today.

''Indian citizens are suffering because of the unchecked global trade in arms,'' Oxfam's South Asia Policy Advisor on the Control Arms Campaign Binalakshmi Nepram said.

''The Arms Trade Treaty presents a momentous opportunity for India to push for a common set of legally-binding international standards for responsible arms transfers across the world,'' she added.

The paper said the global principles on which the Treaty is based are a reflection of India's Directive Principles as laid out in India's Constitution-- promotion of international peace and security, fostering respect for international law and treaty obligations, and encouraging settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

Ms Nepram said lack of regulation of the international arms trade was hurting India's citizens.

''India has laws governing arms transfers but these have not prevented a flood of foreign-made weapons from entering this country illegally,'' she added.

''Eighty per cent of the world's illegal weapons start off as legally authorised sales, but easily fall into the wrong hands because there is no regulation of subsequent transfers,'' she added.

The Arms Trade Treaty would help strengthen national laws, requiring good practice by all countries involved in the arms trade, the paper said.

''Currently, if India decides not to sell arms to a particular country because they could be used to fuel conflict or harm civilians, other suppliers can rush in. This is what happened in Nepal during the uprising against the King's dictatorship,'' the paper said.

''An Arms Trade Treaty would benefit India by placing global restrictions on irresponsible arms transfers by all countries.'' Supporting the campaign for an Arms Trade Treaty, Air Commodore (retd) Prashant Dikshit said, ''Whether we're talking about armed militancy or organised crime, these people are using global networks of arms traffickers who can exploit the lack of controls on their trade.'' Already, more than 20,000 Indians have added their faces to a worldwide photo petition of more than a million people from 160 countries (see www.controlarms.org).

More than 55 governments, including much of Africa, Latin America and Europe, have publicly stated their support for an Arms Trade Treaty.

Following the June 2006 UN Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Kenya and the UK have written to all other UN Member states, enclosing a draft resolution to be moved in the UN General Assembly First Committee (on Disarmament) this October.

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