The Miriam College Center for Peace Education attended the 5th Conferences of State Parties (CSP5) to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) from 26-30 August 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Part of the Control Arms Coalition, CPE was one of over 70 members from civil-society organizations meeting different governments, campaigning for ratification to signatory parties to the ATT such as the Philippines, delivering statements in the different thematic areas, and organizing side events throughout the week.

Bianca Pabotoy, Project Officer for Women, Peace and Security and Gender and Disarmament Focal Point, represented the Center throughout the week.

This year’s focus was gender and gender-based violence, championed by CSP5 president, Ambassador Janis Kārkliņš of Latvia. Discussions focused on the gendered impact of armed conflict and gender-based violence considerations in arms transfer risk assessments, as well as meaningful representation of women in the disarmament fora.

The ATT aims in promoting responsibility in international transfers of conventional arms. It is also the first ever legally-binding regime that recognizes the link between gender-based violence (GBV) and the international arms trade. Under the ATT it is illegal to transfer weapons if there is a risk that the weapons will be used to facilitate GBV.

The illicit trade and proliferation of loose firearms and weapons continues to be a key issue of peace and security issue in the country. CPE continues its campaign work for the Philippines to ratify both the Arms Trade Treaty (signed 2013) and the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons (signed 2017).

A major component of peace building is securing safe spaces where peace can grow thus disarmament remains a critical area of engagement by the Center towards building a culture of long-lasting peace.

Learn more about the Arms Trade Treaty here.
Read through Control Arms daily reports and statements in the CSP5 here.