A global Arms Trade Treaty to regulate the $85 billion industry and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers and criminals will come into force on December 24 after the 50th country ratified the agreement on Thursday, the United Nations said.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly adopted the treaty in April last year. Argentina, Bahamas, Portugal, Czech Republic, St. Lucia, Senegal and Uruguay deposited their ratifications with the world body on Thursday, taking the total to 52.
U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane told an Arms Trade Treaty event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly that Bosnia and Herzegovina was due to also deposit its ratification later on Thursday.
The Arms Trade Treaty aims to set standards for all cross-border transfers of conventional weapons ranging from small firearms to tanks and attack helicopters.
The United States, the world’s top arms exporter, signed the Arms Trade Treaty in September but has not yet ratified it. The National Rifle Association, a powerful U.S. gun lobby, is opposed to ratification of the treaty, even though it only covers weapons exports, not domestic gun sales.
