UNREC, OHCHR and the AU foster ending violence against women through promoting universalisation and implementation of the ATT

In light of this, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the African Union Commission (AU) organized from 7 to 8 December 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a workshop on the ‘Implementation of ATT Obligations relating to Human Rights and Gender-Based Violence’. The workshop aimed at raising awareness on the gender-dimensions of the arms trade and at identifying measures that foster universalisation and implementation of the ATT, with a particular focus on its human rights and gender related obligations.

Participants included representatives of several UN and AU offices and agencies, sub-regional intergovernmental organisations, and civil society organisations. Furthermore, several African States Parties to the ATT attended the meeting, including Chad, Liberia, Mali, and Togo.

The Director of UNREC, Ms. Olatokunbo Ige, stressed that in order for the ATT to fulfil its objective of reducing human suffering, universalisation of the ATT needs to be enhanced and effective implementation ensured.

The ATT entered into force on 24 December 2015. As of 8 December 2015, 16 African States ratified or acceded to the treaty, including Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Togo.