The Netherlands is pressing the United Nations to adopt a treaty that would regulate the international arms trade. This week, the First Committee of the General Assembly will discuss international standards for the trade in conventional weapons.

Today in New York, in collaboration with Oxfam and the United Nations University, the Netherlands is organising ‘Dying for Action’, a meeting designed to underscore the need for the speedy adoption of a treaty on the international arms trade.

‘The Netherlands and our partners in the EU and NATO have already imposed strict conditions on the export of weapons, motivated in part by a desire to fight human rights violations,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen. ‘Together with civil society groups, we’re demanding the effective, global regulation of the arms trade, so it does not threaten peace and stability or lead to violations of international law. The best way of achieving this goal is through the swift conclusion of a treaty.’

Since 2006 the UN has been exploring the possibility of introducing an international standards for the trade in conventional weapons. The vast majority of UN member states would support such a treaty, but not all countries are convinced. In the view of the Netherlands, which is shared by civil society organisations like Oxfam, the exploratory phase is now at an end, and the time has come to draft the actual treaty.

Click here for more information (Oxfam website).

Comments/Questions? Email netherlands@un.int