Human Rights Ambassador Welcomes Countries Ratifying UN Arms Trade Treaty

Human Rights Ambassador welcomed the countries ratified UN Arms Trade Treaty

Salem-News.com Human Rights Ambassador William Nicholas Gomes.

(WASHINGTON DC) - The ambassadors of 18 countries handed over the documents at a U.N. ceremony on the first anniversary of the General Assembly's adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, which is aimed at stemming the global illegal weapons trade, estimated at between $60 billion and $85 billion. The new ratifications brings the total number to 31, more than half of the 50 needed for the pact to enter into force.

Five of the world's top 10 arms exporters — Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain — turned in their ratification documents at the ceremony. The other 13 were Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com, William Nicholas Gomes congratulates world leaders for ratifying the United Nation’s Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). He further calls for enforcement of the UN Arms Treaty as soon as possible. Millions of people around the world will continue to suffer the deadly consequences of the poorly regulated global trade in weapons until many more governments take rapid steps to bring the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) into force, William Nicholas Gomes said. "I will continue to campaign for all states to sign, ratify and rigorously implement the ATT."

Great to hear France ratifies the #ArmsTreaty . Congratulations to all involved from beginning. @FranceinIndia @pf_mourier @HMARicketts

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear @spainun ratifies the #ArmsTreaty Congratulations to all involved from beginning. @NeydaC @jllcarrasco @SimonManleyFCO

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear Finland ratifies the #ArmsTreaty Congratulations to all involved from beginning. @JarmoViinanen @Jari1362 @SinikkaAntila

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear German ratifies the #ArmsTreaty Congratulations to all involved from beginning. @JuergenMorhard @alexbonde @GermanyUN

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear #Denmark ratifies the #ArmsTreaty Congratulations to all involved from beginning. #dkpol @jesperms @caskly @martinlidegaard

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear ITALY ratifies the #ArmsTreaty Congratulations to all involved from beginning. @sebastianocardi @PGAction @controlarms

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Great to hear UK ratifies the #ArmsTreaty today. Congratulations to all involved from beginning. #Raceto50 @LyallGrant #ArmsTreaty

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

Congratulations to @dfatirl and @EamonGilmore on Ireland's ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty. #ATT #ArmsTreaty

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014

#ArmsTreaty can only make a real difference if it is properly implemented. @WilliamJHague work with all partners @annamac33 @HughRobertsonMP

— William Gomes (@Wnicholasgomes) April 2, 2014