THE UN PROGRAMME OF FELLOWSHIP ON DISARMAMENT; Omnibus appropriations bill prevents the implementation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

THE UN PROGRAMME OF FELLOWSHIP ON DISARMAMENT

Launched by the General Assembly in 1978 at its first special session devoted to disarmament, the Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament aims to train and build the capacity of officials from Member States to enable them to participate more effectively in international disarmament deliberating and negotiating fora.

The Fellowship Programme Itinerary

Submitted by cbaus on January 20, 2014 - 8:00am. 

• National Politics
 
• Gun Grabbers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has announced that the Omnibus appropriations bill prevents the implementation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by prohibiting any funding of the treaty unless it is ratified by the U.S. Senate, which opposes the treaty. In October 2013, Sen. Moran led a bipartisan group of 50 U.S. Senators in reiterating to President Obama that the Senate overwhelmingly opposes ratification and will not be bound by its obligations.

"Last fall, the Obama Administration's signed the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty in a direct dismissal of the American people and the bipartisan Senate majority that rejects this treaty," Sen. Moran said. "Throughout this process, it has been disturbing to watch the Administration reverse U.S. policies, abandon its own 'red line' negotiation principles, admit publicly the treaty's dangerous ambiguity, and hastily review the final treaty text. With the passage of the Omnibus bill, it will be made unequivocally clear that Congress is committed to upholding the fundamental individual rights of Americans and rejects the ATT. We will not be bound by the treaty and we will not fund its implementation."

The Omnibus appropriations bill includes specific language in Section 7075 stating, "None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be obligated or expended to implement the Arms Trade Treaty until the Senate approves a resolution of ratification for the Treaty."

BackgroundIn the letter to President Obama in October 2013, Sen. Moran and his colleagues outline six reasons why they will not give advice and consent to the treaty and are therefore not bound to uphold the treaty's object and purpose.

"We urge you to notify the treaty depository that the U.S. does not intend to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, and is therefore not bound by its obligations," the 50 Senators wrote to President Obama.

The six reasons for opposing ratification of the ATT include: