The ICRC strongly supports the elaboration of a comprehensive, legally binding Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that establishes common international standards for the responsible transfer of conventional weapons and their ammunition, based on States' responsibilities under international law, including international humanitarian law

Answers to your questions about the humanitarian consequences of unregulated arms availability, why "small arms" is a major problem and how to address it.

In recent years, many states have committed themselves to taking the recipient's respect for international humanitarian law into account in their arms transfer decisions. However, the question of how to apply such humanitarian law criteria in practice has so far received limited attention.

The increased risk that civilians face due to the current inadequate controls on arms availability, combined with the frequent use of weapons in violation of international humanitarian law are presented in this leaflet. Complementing the more comprehensive study published in 1999 on Arms availability and the situation of civilians in arms conflicts, this concise leaflet outlines the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's recommendations on this topic.

In 1995, the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent asked the ICRC to conduct a study on the extent to which the availability of weapons is contributing to the proliferation and aggravation of violations of international humanitarian law in armed conflicts and to the deterioration of the situation of civilians. This document describes such matters as the nature of current conflicts and the availability of weapons, presents empirical data establishing a link between arms availability and humanitarian problems, and proposes restrictions based on respect for international humanitarian law.

The obligations of arms-exporting States toward the victims of small arms and light weapons beyond their borders are not merely moral. When serious violations of international law are threatened or perpetrated, States have a legal duty to act in a lawful manner in order to bring such violations to an end. One of the ways this can be done is by ensuring that the export and transit of weapons from their territory are tightly controlled.

United Nations, General Assembly, 64th session, First Committee, Items 96 & 100 of the agenda, Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), New York, 9 October 2009

ICRC statement on parameters of an arms trade treaty, open-ended working group towards an arms trade treaty, New York, 15 July 2009

ICRC statement on goals and objectives of an arms trade treaty, open-ended working group towards an arms trade treaty, New York, 13 July 2009

ICRC statement on scope of an arms trade treaty, open-ended working group towards an arms trade treaty, New York, 13 July 2009

ICRC statement on international humanitarian law parameters in an arms trade treaty, open-ended working group towards an arms trade treaty, New York, 5 March 2009.

ICRC statement on scope of an arms trade treaty, open-ended working group towards an arms trade treaty, New York, 3 March 2009.

A comprehensive global agreement that would strengthen controls over international arms transfers is urgently needed. The continued unregulated supply of weapons to areas where they are likely to be used to violate international humanitarian law demonstrates that existing controls are far from adequate - comments by the International Committee of the Red Cross

Text of the ICRC statement of 29 June 2006, to the UN Review Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons, New York.

The ease of access to small arms and light weapons continues to pose serious obstacles to social and economic development in countries where the ICRC is active. Text of a speech delivered by the ICRC President, Jakob Kellenberger, to the Geneva Summit on Armed Violence and Development.

Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the Second Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects – United Nations Headquarters, 11 July – 15 July 2005.

Statement by the ICRC to the Open-ended Working Group to Negotiate an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, United Nations, New York, 14 - 25 June 2004. ICRC says the threat posed by these weapons often outlives conflicts, making the return to peace and the rule of law more difficult.

Background paper

First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, United Nations, New York

Resolution 12 adopted by the Council of Delegates, Geneva, 1999