STATEMENT BY
MR. DEON L. WILLIAMS
COUNSELLOR OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF
JAMAICA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE OF THE ARMS TRADE TREATY (ATT)
NEW YORK, 12 - 23 JULY 2010
Thank you Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Chairman,
Jamaica welcomes this important stage in the deliberations leading up to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and congratulates you on your election as Chair to guide the process. We assure you of our full cooperation in the pursuit of your task.
Mr. Chairman,
Jamaica supports a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty. We are of the view that the opportunity presented to us at this Preparatory Committee meeting must not be lost in the many and varying positions that will occupy our attention in the two weeks ahead even as we seek a common understanding to develop international standards to regulate the trade in small arms and light weapons. The unregulated trade in conventional weapons, particularly in small arms, has taken an enormous human and economic toll on many of our societies and therefore, specifically for Jamaica, the ATT will represent a significant tool in our own crime fighting strategy. We must work to eliminate the divide which exists in our various positions, through a willingness to put aside narrow national interests for the good of all humanity.
Mr. Chairman,
In keeping with the request mandated by resolution 64/48 we believe that the Treaty should comprise the following elements:
A preamble; this should elaborate the goals and objectives of the Treaty, including the rationale behind its provisions.
The Treaty should include a definition of terms used including: export, import, transfer, transit, transshipment, small arms, brokering and ammunition.
The scope of the Treaty should be comprehensive and consist of the following: export, re-export, import, transfer, transit, and transshipment of arms; all types of conventional weapons, particularly small arms and light weapons, as well as the technology to manufacture such equipment; their parts, components and ammunition which constitute an integral part of the arms trade; arms brokering activities and end-use activities such as controls and monitoring.
Of vital importance, the Treaty should establish general requirements for a national system of licensing or authorization for the regulation of the trade including: end use certificates; marking requirements; broker regulation and other pertinent related details.
In conjunction with the national system of licensing, the Treaty will have to be implemented at the national level to ensure coherence globally and for sovereign control over the process of implementation including verification and compliance mechanisms and the determination and application of sanctions where violations occur.
Mr. Chairman,
Jamaica supports the view espoused by several delegations earlier, that the efficacy and efficiency of the Treaty will be determined by the extent to which international cooperation is extended, particularly to developing countries, where necessary, to assist in facilitating the full implementation of the Treaty including the development of national standards. As such, the ATT will need to incorporate provisions relating to international cooperation and assistance.
If the Treaty is to garner the support of the international community it should be transparent. In this connection, a reporting feature should be a part of States' obligation to the Treaty as well as the provision of information relating to national compliance to the Treaty. The Treaty should also allow for periodic review conferences to take into account global developments and changes in technology. An established procedure to facilitate and implement amendments to the Treaty must also be clearly expressed.
The Treaty should also address areas such as reservations, entry into force, signature, ratification, withdrawal, denunciation and depository.
Mr. Chairman,
As our Prime Minister stated at the just concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Montego Bay Jamaica, we must be clear that fighting crime is not just a law-enforcement exercise. It is a major development issue.
I thank you.