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Alongside the work of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, the NGO Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, in collaboration with the Independent Commission for Human Rights in North Africa, convened a major side event entitled « Promoting the Universality of the Arms Trade Treaty in Arab Countries ».
This event brought together experts, state representatives, and civil society actors who unanimously underscored the problems associated with the illicit arms trade and its impact on regional security and human rights.
The event served as a platform to establish a united front in the fight against the illicit arms trade and its role in regional instability, while laying the groundwork for enhanced cooperation between states, international organizations, and civil society to combat this scourge.
Civil society, encouraged to develop concrete strategies in this fight, emphasized the need to ensure lasting peace and better protection of human rights in the Arab region and beyond. In this context, there was an urgent call for stricter controls on arms transfers to prevent their misuse by unauthorized entities, such as non-state armed groups and terrorist organizations.
The implementation of robust oversight mechanisms was deemed essential to limit access to these weapons and prevent their diversion for destabilizing purposes. Such regulation would also strengthen regional security and protect the most vulnerable populations.
Ultimately, this event marked a watershed moment in global efforts to dismantle the illicit arms trade and maintain peace and stability in Arab countries, contributing to a broader and more enforceable implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty.
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