Historic Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) passed in UN

An unexampled Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) passed in UN General Assembly with:

• 154 members voting ‘Yes’
• 3 – Iran, Syria and North Korea — voting no
• 23 including India, China, Egypt, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, etc. abstaining.
• Pakistan voted in favour of the treaty.

What the treaty covers:

• Under its ambit, the ratifying nations are required to accept fixed international standards for conventional weapons sales, linked to the protection of human rights.
• The treaty covers weapons such as tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers, and small and light arms.
•  However, the treaty doesn’t explicitly cover predator drones and grenades.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2013

Category: International / World Current Affairs