Inter-Faith Meeting on United Nations Process for an Arms Trade Treaty in New Delhi

The world military spending has broken the trillion-dollar mark. It is estimated to have reached $ 1464 billion in 2008. Despite the suffering and poverty fuelled by irresponsible arms transfers, there is still no comprehensive, binding international treaty on the trade in conventional arms. There are more regulations in music and film industry but none in arms. And worldwide 2000 people die every day due from armed violence caused by unregulated arms trade.

In India, 12 people are shot dead everyday due to gun violence. Up to 1000 people are killed on an average by small arms everyday (500,000 every year) around the world.

Developing nations continue to be the primary importers of arms. In 2007, 70.5% of the arms transfer agreements were made in favour of developing nations. Between 2000 and 2007 India ranked world's second largest arms importer accounting for 7.5 % of all major weapons transfers. It stood fourth among the largest military spender in terms of purchasing power in 2007 followed by US, China and Russia, and yet continues to experience significant levels of poverty

In 2006, work on an global Arms Trade Treaty started at the United Nations so that no further loss of lives happens. Since the UN process started in December 2006, approximately 695,000 people have been killed directly with unregulated arms, illustrating the urgent need to make the Arms Trade Treaty happen as till now progress is blocked by a few countries. In a few weeks the issue will again be discussed at the United Nations First Committee on Disarmament that is coming up in October 2009 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The idea of an Arms Trade Treaty was inspired by Nobel Peace Laureates and developed by lawyers, human rights organisations, and humanitarian NGOs. It now enjoys the support of a growing number of governments (153 States), as well as more than 800 civil society organisations worldwide.

In India, the work is spear-headed by Control Arms Foundation of India and its partner organisations and till date more than 50,000 Indians and around 50 parliamentarians have voiced their concern to Government of India to support the process.

Recently, for the first time, at a historic consensus held on 17 July 2009, at the United Nations, all governments agreed that international action is needed to address the problem of the unregulated arms trade. Member States agreed to begin negotiations when they reconvene in October 2009 at the United Nations First Committee on Disarmament. Any further delay would means more lost lives. Almost no states, including India seriously questioned the merit of developing international regulations and a majority of the countries urged that negotiations begin on an ATT.

On Saturday 12 September, 2009 Control Arms Foundation of India in collaboration with the Baha'i Community of India is organizing an inter-faith meeting for peace and disarmament at the Auditorium, Baha'i Information Centre, Lotus Temple, New Delhi.

The purpose of the meeting is to make the faith leaders in India be aware of the United Nations process for peace and disarmament with particular emphasis on the current process for an Arms Trade Treaty.

India is a country of multiple faith and the proposed meeting aims is to send out a strong message to the government of India and the people that religious leaders have always been deeply concerned with the ongoing armed violence around the world and hence the collective call for peace and disarmament. Throughout the history of India, religion has been an important part of the country's culture. The vast majority of Indians associate themselves with a religion, and religious tolerance is established in both law and custom.

The key note address at the Inter-Faith Meeting will be delivered by Swami Agnivesh, Founder and President , World Council of Arya Samaj. The other speakers include Mr Shatrughun Jiwnani, Director, Baha'i Community of India, Maulana Mansoor, Sadhivi Vidushi Om Prabha Bharti, Mr M. D. Thomas, Rev. Gyomyo Nakamura, Father Nithiya and Rajyogini Brahma Kumari Shanti.

For more details, log on to www.controlarms.org/en or www.cafi-online.org

For interviews and other information, please contact :
Ms Binalakshmi Nepram & Ms Elizabeth Imti
Control Arms Foundation of India
B 5 / 146, First Floor, Safdarjung Enclave
New Delhi - 110 029


Phone: +91-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234