The Importance of the Arms Trade Treaty for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Abstract The availability, propagation and excessive accumulation of arms are a serious impediment to countries’ achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Irresponsible arms trade leads to permanent insecurity, which forces people to leave their homes and impacts on the diversion of funds from inter alia health, education, social–economic stability and peace-building processes to defence and the military. Goal 16 of the SDGs sets out, noting its indicator 16.4, that the significant reduction of illicit arms flows is a way to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. This is a target to be met by 2030. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), aiming at preventing and eradicating the unregulated arms flows by laying down criteria to be assessed before authorising arms transfers, is a crucial international legally binding instrument in that quest. This study advocates that, applying an integrative approach to the ATT, the potentially negative impact in the recipient country’s achievement of the SDGs is to be considered when pondering upon arms transfers.