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Press statement on the outcome of the First Conference of States parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, Cancun-Mexico, 24-27 August 2015

Illicit arms flows fuel conflicts and instability, cause havoc in too many countries and result in a terrible human toll.

The Arms Trade Treaty, adopted in 2013 by the UN and entered into force in December 2014, can curb illicit arms trafficking with the robust controls that it mandates over arms transfers. So far, 72 States globally have ratified the Treaty, including 26 EU Member States.

The first Conference of States parties has just taken place in Cancun, Mexico on 24-27 August 2015 under Mexican chairmanship and with a large participation from NGO and civil society. The ambition of the Conference to lay solid foundations for the ATT was met as it successfully agreed its rules of procedure and financial rules, common reporting arrangements for States and established the ATT Secretariat. The Secretariat will be located in Geneva and headed by Mr Dumisani Dladla of South Africa.

The EU and its Member States are grateful to Mexico and to Ambassador Lomonaco for the hosting and successful chairing of the Conference. The positive and substantive outcome for the Conference will further supports efforts towards a universal and effective implementation of the Treaty. The EU and its Member States will actively contribute to this end, notably through a dedicated EU outreach and capacity-building programme.

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