The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) became an instrument of international law when it entered into force on 24 December 2014. For years prior to that landmark moment Saferworld was at the forefront of civil society’s efforts to encourage states to agree a robust, stringent set of rules governing the cross-border transfer of conventional arms. And for the ten years since its entry into force, we have been working to ensure progressive interpretation and full implementation of the Treaty by all States Parties. In particular, we aim to support those with relatively little experience in operating a criteria- and international law-based system of arms transfer controls and/or with significant resource constraints. However, we also seek to hold to account states with well-developed systems, when failings in policy and practice come to light.

To further these objectives, in 2013 we established the informal ATT Expert Group, which works with an evolving group of government and civil society experts to develop common understandings and explore emerging issues around Treaty implementation. 
 
As an informal dialogue process involving diplomats, national policy practitioners and independent experts from a range of relevant fields, the ATT Expert Group facilitates the sharing of experiences on ATT ratification/accession and implementation/compliance. By feeding these deliberations into the formal ATT process, the aim is to promote a wider understanding of how to maximise Treaty effectiveness through consistent and robust implementation. 
 
So far there have been eight in-person meetings of the ATT Expert Group in a variety of locations ranging from Canada to Costa Rica, Germany to Ghana, involving government and civil society experts from all world regions. The range of topics so far discussed includes: the interpretation of a number of ATT Articles; reporting and transparency under the Treaty; elements of an export risk assessment; and how the ATT impacts arms transfers to non-state armed groups. 
 
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the ATT Expert Group has met in a virtual setting and has continued to support the ATT formal process. The meetings to advance a positive agenda, bringing together experts from around the world for a series of single-session meetings. There have been 13 virtual meetings so far, covering topics such as the future of the ATT process; interpreting Article 7.7 on re-assessment of an authorised export; and the arms transfer implications of the conflict in Ukraine.
 
In order to share the ATT Expert Group’s discussions on Treaty application and implementation with the widest possible audience, Saferworld produces and disseminates briefings which summarise or draw from the discussions that have taken place at and around the meetings. These have proved useful in either conveying a sense of developing understandings on ATT issues or raising emerging issues for further consideration in the formal ATT environment. These briefings therefore serve as an information resource to States Parties and signatories in their implementation of the Treaty at national level, and in their efforts to deliver a robust ATT regime at international level through the Conferences of States Parties and their associated preparatory and Working Group meetings. 

Read the ninth briefing: Implementing Article 7.7 of the Arms Trade Treaty

Read the eighth briefing: Domestic accountability for international arms transfers: Law, policy and practice

Read the seventh briefing: Arms exports, terror and crime: Reducing risk under the Arms Trade Treaty

Read the sixth briefing: Implementing the ATT: undertaking an arms transfer risk assessment.

Read the fifth briefing: Implementing the ATT: Essential elements of an effective arms transfer control system.

Read the fourth briefing: Implementing the ATT: Developing brokering controls in less capacitated States.

Read the third briefing: Prevention, transit and innocent passage under the Arms Trade Treaty.

Read the second briefing: Key issues for ATT implementation: Preventing and combating diversion.

Read the first briefing: Key issues for ATT implementation: Information exchange under the ATT.