St Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica have ratified the new Arms Trade Treaty as the Caribbean seeks to play an historic role in helping end the irresponsible, lethal global 85 billion US dollar trade in small arms and light weapons and ammunition.
The delegations from the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries Tuesday attended a special ratification ceremony at the United Nations’ Headquarters to mark the event.
President of the Caribbean Coalition for Development and the Reduction of Armed Violence (CDRAV) Folade Mutota said it is really positive that two more CARICOM member states have ratified the Arms Trade Treaty.
She says St Vincent and the Grenadines hosted two of the four regional preparatory workshops at which CARICOM’s common negotiating position was agreed,”
President Mutota says Jamaica was very instrumental during the negotiations when the region successfully pushed for the inclusion of small arms and ammunition in the treaty.
She added that Caribbean civil society calls on our governments to do all that is necessary to implement this treaty.
Mutota said the road has been paved for governments to take effective measures to reduce significantly the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition and the devastation that follows.
Since the Arms Trade Treaty opened for signature one year ago, 118 states have signed it, and so far 40 states including SVG and Jamaica have ratified this pioneering international agreement.
In order for the treaty to enter into force and become legally-binding international law, only 10 more states are required to ratify.
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