Tutu urges nations to sign arms treaty

All nations must sign the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the United Nations (UN), Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said. Photo: AP

All nations must sign the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the United Nations (UN), Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said. Photo: AP

Published Jun 3, 2013

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Johannesburg - All nations must sign the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the United Nations (UN), Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Monday.

“For thousands of years, people have invented and developed an extraordinary array of tools to settle arguments - and seize each other's belongings - by causing each other physical harm,” Tutu said in a statement.

“Now, for the first time, the international community is taking tangible steps to stop the blight.”

Tutu said the only people who were benefiting were the manufacturers of weapons.

The treaty opened for signatures on Monday. The Associated Press reported it was the first international treaty regulating the multi-billion-dollar global arms trade.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the treaty on April 2.

Countries that ratify it will have to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms and components, and to regulate arms dealers. The treaty will, however, not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, AP reported. - Sapa

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