New York/The Hague | 25 April, 2012

Launched at the PGA Annual Forum on Armed Violence and Development in Colombo Sri Lanka in November 2011, the Control Arms Global Parliamentary Declaration on the Arms Trade Treaty has now been signed by over 1,000 Legislators in 50 countries worldwide.

PGA has played a leading role in raising awareness of, and support for the ATT among its members worldwide and, in particular, in encouraging Legislators to sign the Control Arms Global Parliamentary Declaration on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

PGA President and Assistant Speaker of Parliament Ross Robertson MP (New Zealand) welcomed this important landmark by observing that:

“Parliamentarians are fundamental stakeholders in this entire process. Be it advocating for the Treaty itself or be it calling for its ratification when it is in place, it is lawmakers that must step up to the plate and fulfill their basic duties. This also extends to drafting and introducing legislation to give effect to the ATT in all of our respective countries, when the ATT text is agreed upon. It is my hope that many more of my fellow legislators around the world will follow the excellent example set by over 1,000 of their colleagues in 50 countries and also sign this Declaration.”

The Control Arms Global Parliamentary Declaration on the ATT will be presented at the United Nations in early July 2012 to coincide with the beginning of the UN ATT Diplomatic Conference.