(Maputo/New York) - PGA congratulates the Government of Mozambique on depositing its Instrument of Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty at United Nations Headquarters in New York earlier today, an important and decisive step forward in promoting national, regional and international peace and security. 

PGA also congratulates its Executive Committee Member Hon. António Niquice, MP for his crucial role and advocacy, over a three year period, leading to this historic achievement. Hon. António Niquice made a powerful statement during the Plenary Session  of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique on 23rd May 2018, which approved the 2016 Council of Ministers Decision of the Government of Mozambique to proceed to ratification of the ATT, having previously signed the ATT on 3rd June, 2013. In so doing, Hon. António Niquice reiterated the importance of this step, confirming the commitment of Mozambique to International Peace and Security.

By ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty, although Mozambique is not an armament-producing country, we are positively sending a signal to the World, contributing to the strengthening of global mechanisms for international regulation of the arms trade, peace-building, security, stability, strengthening of human rights at national, regional and international levels. A striking and noteworthy aspect is the fact that the ratification of this treaty was consensual, which demonstrates the will of the Mozambicans to live in peace and contribute to an increasingly peaceful and free world of wars and violations of the most elementary and basic human rights. In accordance with the constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, the ratification and domestication of the norms of international law has the same legal value as the legal acts issued by the Assembly of the Republic.Hon. António Niquice, MP
PGA Executive Committee Member

Hon. António Niquice participated in PGA's 37th Annual Forum in El Salvador in 2015 on the Role of Parliamentarians in Promoting Peace and Security - Promoting Universality and Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty and Biological Weapons Convention. He subsequently arranged for a High Level Delegation from the Government and National Assembly of Mozambique to participate in PGA's Regional Africa Workshop to Address the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in Dar-es-Salaam in April 2016. In addition, Hon. António Niquice made an important contribution to the success of PGA's Lusophone States Workshop to Promote Universality and Implementation of the ATT in Cabo Verde in June 2016. Hon. António Niquice also participated in PGA's 39th Annual Forum in Milan, Italy where the Plan of Action adopted specifically highlighted the importance, inter alia, of the Arms Trade Treaty in Preventing Violent Extremism and Mass Atrocities.

PGA is also grateful to PGA Member Hon. Ana Rita Sithole, Chairperson of the PGA National Group in the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, for her vital advocacy after participation in PGA’s Guinea Bissau Workshop in October 2018 which contributed in part to final ratification of the ATT by the Government of Mozambique in December 2018. Hon. Ana Rita Sithole also participated in the Joint Session on the Arms Trade Treaty organized by the Pan-African Parliament and PGA in South Africa in October 2013.

This comes about as a direct result of my demarches since PGA’s Workshop in Bissau in November 2018. To see this achievement coincide with the 100th deposit at the UN serves to crown the good work and commitment of the Government of Mozambique to be a leading force in the search for a peaceful and rules based society. Our work as legislators will continue so that a full and comprehensive implementation takes place in the near futureDr. Ana Rita Sithole, MP
Chair of PGA National Group in  Assembly of Mozambique

The National Group of PGA in the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, as a whole, has also been a strong force behind the promotion and advocacy in favor of the Arms Trade Treaty and is also warmly congratulated.

In July 2016, as previously noted, PGA organized its first Lusophone States Workshop in the National Assembly of Cabo Verde, funded by the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR), to bring legislators together and promote the Universality and Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty. That Workshop set in motion and generated commitments from several Legislators. Two months after this Workshop concluded, Cabo Verde ratified the Arms Trade Treaty in September 2016.

During 2017-2018, the leadership efforts of PGA Members of Parliament in Chile, Suriname, Brazil, Guinea Bissau, and now, Mozambique, spearheaded the ATT ratification process and played crucial roles in promoting advancement and eventual passage of the ATT in their respective parliaments. PGA also acknowledges the contributions made by PGA Membership in Cameroon which lead to ratification by Cameroon of the ATT earlier in 2018. 

This Ratification places Mozambique as the 100th State Party to the Arms Trade Treaty. 

Since 2013, PGA Members have made central, catalytic contributions to the ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty in 45 States worldwide.