UNITAR Negotiation Training: Towards the Arms Trade Treaty-Training if Full, Registration is Closed
Type
Workshop
Location
New York, United States of America
Date
-
Duration
2 Days
Programme Area
Peace Security and Diplomacy,
Multilateral Diplomacy
Website
Price
$550.00
The fee for this course does not apply to diplomats assigned to a Permanent Mission in New York. Representatives of international, intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations, civil society and other interested individuals are required to pay the participation fee. You will not be charged for the course at this point. In case a sufficient number of participant signs up for the course, we will ask you in a separate email to confirm your interest and your payment.
Event Focal Point Email
nyo@unitar.org
Contact Number
212-963-9196
Partnership
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Registration
By application & selection
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-Face
Language(s)
English
Data Protection and Privacy
The personal data of participants applying for, registering for or participating in UNITAR's training courses and other events is governed by the Data Protection and Privacy Policy. By applying for, registering for or participating in this event, the participant acknowledges that he or she is, (or they are) aware of the policy and agree to its terms.
In all parts of the world, the ready availability of weapons and ammunition has led to human suffering, political repression, crime and terror among civilian populations. Irresponsible transfers of conventional weapons can destabilize security in a region, enable the violation of Security Council arms embargoes and contribute to human rights abuses. Importantly, investment is discouraged and development disrupted in countries experiencing conflict and high levels of violence, which also affect their ability to attain the Millennium Development Goals. However, the global trade in conventional weapons – from warships and battle tanks to fighter jets and machine guns – remains poorly regulated. No internationally agreed standards exist to ensure that arms are transferred responsibly.
Many Governments have voiced concerns about the absence of globally agreed rules to guide their decisions on arms transfers. In 2006, the UN General Assembly addressed this problem in Resolution 61/89, calling for a “comprehensive, legally binding instrument” to establish “common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms”. In July 2012, after 6 years of intensive preparations, countries of the world gathered at the United Nations in New York for an historical initiative in the area of conventional arms: to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Despite the efforts put forth by Governments during the four-week intensive negotiations, the Conference in the end could not reach an agreement. Thus, the General Assembly of the United Nations has decided to convene another conference in March 2013 to conclude the work begun in July 2012.
This two-day intensive workshop aims to prepare delegates, especially from developing and least developed country for the upcoming United Nations Final Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, which will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 18-28 March 2013. It will follow a combined theoretical and practical approach and equip delegates not only with the necessary background knowledge on the ATT process and key issues at stake at the upcoming ATT conference, but also help them to train and enhance their negotiation skills.
This training aims to provide delegates with the necessary background to play an active role in this upcoming Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty. The workshop will explore the fundamental rationale for an Arms Trade Treaty, shed light on the central issues still under discussion and give participants an opportunity to learn through hands-on simulation exercises the intricacies of multilateral disarmament negotiations.
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Critically discuss the scope, structure and contents of a possible ATT
- Identify key issues at stake in and main challenges for the ATT negotiations
- Critically discuss the implementation and monitoring of disarmament treaties
- Make informed decisions and effectively negotiate at the upcoming ATT Conference
The workshop will discuss technical aspects of the ATT as well as key substantive issues at stake in the negotiation process. In addition it will provide a practical half-day training session on negotiation techniques dynamics.
The workshop will be structured into three parts, including the following topics:
Part I: The ATT Process – Towards an Arms Trade Treaty
· Overview over the ATT Process
· Analysis of the results of the 2012 Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty
· Possible structure and contents of an ATT: scope, elements, principles and parameters
· Strategies for monitoring and implementation of an ATT
Part II: Key Substantive Issues at Stake
· Securing Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the Arms Trade Treaty
· Small Arms Ammunition and the ATT
· Applying Sustainable Development to Arms Transfer Decisions
· Transit and Transshipment
Part III: Skills-Building Negotiation Training
The workshop will feature, expert presentations from senior UN officials, leading academics and experienced diplomats and practitioners from the NGO sector as well as seminar style discussions and interactive training sessions, including simulation exercises.
The workshop is primarily designed for diplomats and NGO representatives who will participate in the upcoming UN Conference on Arms Trade Treaty from 18 to 28 March 2013. Individuals from the academic and private sector with particular interest in arms control and regulation are also welcome to attend.