PGA Congratulates Suriname on Its Ratification of Arms Trade Treaty on 19th October, 2018, becoming 98th State Party to the ATT
Since 2010, PGA Membership in the National Assembly of Suriname, past and present, have been active advocates, first for the adoption the Arms Trade Treaty, subsequently its Signature by Suriname and, earlier today, deposit of Instrument of Ratification of ATT.
I have just been informed that the Government of Suriname has deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty which we approved 4 months ago in the National Assembly. This is a very positive step and signals the strong commitment of my country to address, in a meaningful way, the threat posed by the inadequate regulation of the international arms trade. As a PGA Member, this is an outcome that I have advocated for within Parliament for a number of years also. It is a Treaty that is also of very high priority to CARICOM and I would like therefore to take this opportunity to very respectfully urge the Government of Haiti, as the sole remaining sovereign country in CARICOM yet to proceed to ATT ratification, to do so in the near future. Hon. Patrick Kensenhuis MP, PGA Member, National Assembly of Suriname
I am very pleased to hear that the Government of Suriname has today deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the ATT, becoming the 98th State Party. Both as a PGA Member and subsequently as Chair of the PGA's International Council between 2008 and 2014, and together with the PGA National Group in the National Assembly at the time, we strongly advocated for the adoption of the ATT and then for Suriname to join this Treaty. The PGA National Group also met with the Minister of the Defence at this time to promote these steps. We live in a region where armed violence and the illicit trade in arms is still an enormous problem. Joining and implementing the ATT, the UN Program of Action against the Illicit Trade and Small Arms and Light Weapons and other regional agreements represent important steps in tackling this challenge we confront and its serious adverse impact on our security and the sustainable development of our societies and economies. I encourage the Government of Suriname to now implement the ATT fully without any undue delay. Ruth Wijdenbosch, former Deputy Speaker of National Assembly of Suriname and Chair of PGA International Council
