The role of NGOs in the process of negotiating an effective Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

MICHAEL SCHOBER MD, IPPNW AUSTRIA

The role of NGOs in the process of negotiating an

effective Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

•Networking and Lobbying

•Research

•Education, Public Actions

• Patient Advocacy

• Care and Rehabilitation of Victims

•Legitimization in Chairman’s Draft Paper

Chairman’s Draft Paper March 3 rd 2011, page 9



>>Participation of NGOs at official meetings

>>Action Networks: - Control Arms Coalition - International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), IANSA Public Health Network

•Research



•Care and Rehabilitation


>>Participation of NGOs at official meetings

Being present! To represent the public society and their interest on the process and to get information.

Lobbying: Cooperating with delegations. Networking of attendant NGOs to share information and contacts.

Speaking time at the main plenary and Side Events

Providing know how: Presentations at side events of studies and positions to be considered in the negotiations. Talking to delegations to answer their subject-specific questions.

Brievings, Internet Blogs, Coordination and common principles and tactics

Preparatory Committee of the ATT February and March 2011, UN Headquarters New York

UNIDIR Conference December 2010, UN Geneva

Examples of IPPNW

activities

Dr. Robert Mtonga talks to experts at UNIDIR Conference Geneva

IPPNW Side Event on Health and the ATT , PrepCom New York

>>Action Networks:

Raising awareness among policymakers, the public and the media about the global threat to human rights and human security and health caused by small arms

Promoting civil society efforts to prevent arms proliferation and armed violence through research, public education and public events

Campaigns to raise public awareness

>>Action Networks:

The International Action Network on Small Arms is the global movement against gun violence, linking civil society organizations working to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. IPPNW is a founding member

Mission: research, advocacy and campaigning.

Platform for coordinating action against small arms violence (IANSA Mission Statement)

Members: 800 NGOs of all continents

>>Aiming for Prevention

IPPNW’s action network. Aiming for Prevention campaign: “To reduce and prevent

injuries and death from small arms violence, and its effects on health, development and peace in the developing world.”

Workshop War and Health, Medical

University Vienna 2011


•Research

>> NGOs providing data

>> as an example: IPPNW projects



•Care and Rehabilitation


NGOs Providing Data

Research ofNGOs using their presence and specific know how

Providing know how for politicians and for public discussion

Examples at ATT process:

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Has been asked to provide suggestions for the practical application of international humanitarian law using their presence and knowledge in area of armed conflicts.

ICRC proposes indictors for the risk of an arms transfer

Whether a recipient which is, or has been, engaged in an armed conflict, has committed serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

Whether a recipient which is, or has been, engaged in an armed conflict has taken all feasible measures to prevent violations of IHL or cause them to cease, including by punishing those responsible

Whether the recipient has made a formal commitment to apply the rules of IHL and taken appropriate measures for their implementation

Whether the recipient country has in place the legal, judicial and administrative measures necessary for the repression of serious violations of IHL

ICRC proposed indictors for the risk of an arms transfer

Whether the recipient has taken steps to prevent the recruitment of children into the armed forces or armed groups and their participation in hostilities

Whether the arms or military equipment requested are commensurate with the operational requirements and capacities of the stated end-user

Whether the recipient maintains strict and effective control over its arms and military equipment and their further transfer

NGO Providing data

Research of NGOs using their presence and specific know how

Providing know how for politicians and for public discussion -

Examples at ATT process:

Amnesty International: Using their juridical expertise to give a guideline how to apply human rights standards to arms transfer decisions

Amnesty International guideline

Amnesty International guideline

Amnesty International research

>>Armed violence kills 740,000 per year leaving millions more maimed, injured, disabled.

>>In the African region, interpersonal violence is third leading cause of death, only after HIV/ AIDS and tuberculosis, for the age group 15–29. >>One hospital in South Africa estimated that treating injuries caused by small arms cost it between USD $2.5 and $10 million a year – a significant sum of money anywhere, and much more so for a poor healthcare system struggling to cover the costs for HIV/AIDS patients.

IPPNW : Medical

arguments for a strong ATT

>>Landmine and gunshot injuries are a limited problem in Zambia if measured in numbers of people affected.

In Zambia, it costs between USD $10–$15 to treat one malaria case, the same for providing antiretroviral therapy as well as a month’s course of anti-tuberculosis medication.

In contrast, a gunshot or antipersonnel mine-injured patient requires a minimum of USD $100 for a minor injury, to an average of USD $3,000.

IPPNW : Medical


>> A boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo who was shot in the face by diamond thieves, had treatment costs of USD $6,000.

This is the same as one year of primary education for 100 children, full immunizations for 250 children, one-and-a-half year education for a medical student, or 10 years of a daily meal for an average Kenyan family of six.

IPPNW : Medical


>>IPPNW arguments against armed violence

• Less people suffering and needed to be treated

• Having health care resources for other diseases, health and nutrition and education

• 10 -15$: To treat a malaria patient, 3000$: To treat a gunshot patient

• Preventing creation of a culture of violence

• Preventing internal displacement and refugees

• Preventing scaring away investment

>> Personal experience

IPPNW : Medical



•Research



• Care and Rehabilitation


NGOs education and action possibilities

• Education in schools, workshops, public space to provide their specific data

• Demonstrations and actions reaching a wide range of people

• Statements via the media

IPPNW : Education

“One Bullet Stories” - Documents of Armed Violence

Aiming for Prevention: Medical Students

• Workshop „War and Health“, oMedical University Vienna 2011

• Participation at international conferences

• Student Exchange programs

• Medical students from Germany and Kenya conduct research on armed violence injuries at Kenyatta Hospital, Nairobi


•Research


• Patient Advocacy and

• Care and Rehabilitation




•Research

•Education, public actions


• Care and rehabilitation




Second Prep Com Feb/March 2011

The Chairman’s paper Ambassador Moritan issued on March 3rd was much more skillfully drafted , the definitions clearer, and far more solid as the previous one, giving less chances for loopholes.

Cuba, Egypt, Iran, and Syria, along with the Russian Federation, all seem opposed to an Arms Trade Treaty.More positively, China and India appeared to demonstrate a more positive reflection on an ATT during this Second Prep Com.

A new Chair's paper is expected for the Third Prep Com, which takes place in mid-July, again in New York. This paper is likely to set out the Chair's take on possible implementation measures.

The scope, now including small arms and ammunition, should be defended by NGOs in the next sessions as one of many lobbying goals…

Thank you for your attention!