Arms Trade Treaty 2013 (ATT)
Definition
The first legally binding global instrument governing the international trade in conventional arms. In force 24 December 2014; 113 state parties as of 2025. Requires exporting states to assess whether a transfer will contribute to atrocities (Article 6 absolute prohibitions and Article 7 risk assessment).
- Adopted
- 2013
- Entered into force
- 24 December 2014
- State parties
- 113 as of 2025
- Key provisions
- Article 6 prohibitions, Article 7 risk assessment
Common questions
What is the difference between the Article 6 and Article 7 obligations under the ATT?+
Article 6 sets absolute prohibitions barring a transfer outright, such as when a state knows the arms would be used in genocide or war crimes, while Article 7 requires an assessing, case-by-case risk evaluation of whether a transfer could contribute to serious violations even when no absolute bar applies.
How does the ATT relate to national firearms licensing regimes such as the US ATF system or India's Arms Act?+
The ATT governs state-to-state international arms transfers and does not itself regulate domestic civilian possession, so it operates alongside, not in place of, national licensing frameworks like the ATF's export controls or India's Arms Act and Arms Rules.
Related terms
- Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1993
- US federal statute establishing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) administered by the FBI. Requires FFLs to conduct a NICS...
- DC V. Heller (2008)
- US Supreme Court decision (554 US 570) holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for...
- eTrace (ATF)
- ATF's electronic firearms trace system. Allows domestic and (via bilateral agreements and iARMS) international law enforcement agencies to submit serial-number trace requests...
- Firearms Act 1968 (UK)
- The primary UK statute governing firearms. Section 1 requires a Firearm Certificate (FAC) for most firearms; section 2 requires a Shotgun Certificate;...
- Gun Control Act 1968 (GCA)
- US federal statute establishing the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) system for commercial sales, the Form 4473 record, and the prohibited-person categories under...
- INTERPOL iARMS
- INTERPOL's Illicit Arms Records and tracing Management System. Multilateral database enabling law enforcement in INTERPOL member countries to trace recovered or seized...
- National Firearms Act 1934 (NFA)
- US federal statute governing machine guns, short-barrelled rifles, suppressors, destructive devices, and other NFA items. Requires registration on the NFRTR and a...
- R V. Bentham (2005)
- House of Lords decision (2005 UKHL 18) holding that a component of a section 5 firearm must be a manufactured artefact. A...
- UN Programme of Action (UN POA 2001)
- Non-binding political commitment by UN member states to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Sets...