Monaco accedes to Arms Trade Treaty

Adhésion traité armes - H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, presents the Principality’s accession instrument to Ms Arancha Hinojal-Oyarbide, legal specialist in the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs © DR

H.E. Ms Isabelle Picco, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, presents the Principality’s accession instrument to Ms Arancha Hinojal-Oyarbide, legal specialist in the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs © DR

On Thursday 30 June 2016, the Arms Trade Treaty accession instrument, signed by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, was submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General, who is the depositary of the treaty, by Ms Isabelle Picco, the Principality’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The first major disarmament treaty since the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty 20 years ago, the Arms Trade Treaty recognises the social, economic and humanitarian consequences of illegal and unregulated trade in conventional arms.

Civilians, particularly women and children, are the main victims of conflicts and armed violence. The objective of this instrument is therefore to ensure a responsible approach to the export of conventional arms, taking into account the political situation of each country.

By acceding to the Arms Trade Treaty, which entered into force on 24 December 2014, the Principality became the 86th State Party.