As part of an international team of NGO representatives I have set up camp for the week in the smoky basement of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In this distinct 1950s atmosphere of international wheeling and dealing the world’s diplomats have come together to discuss the future and content of a global arms trade treaty.

People around the world - through the Control Arms campaign - have been calling for a tough treaty based on human rights law, international humanitarian law and sustainable development since 2003. And whilst the support for such a treaty is growing amongst states we still have quite a bit of convincing to do. Hence the base(ment) camp at the UN this week. We are team of people from all regions of the world, speaking different languages, and making our points to state delegates in any way we can – calling for a tough treaty as soon as possible.

In addition to one-to-one meetings, side events, distribution of our documents and materials we are today setting up an exhibition at the UN with drawings made by children. The drawings depict the devastating impact of the irresponsible trade in conventional weapons on the lives of children.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/controlarms/sets/72157621453484678/show/

The drawings were made between 2004 and 2007 by girls and boys aged between 6 and 18 living in situations of armed conflict. Many were simply asked to draw images of “home”. The images they drew almost uniformly depict the arrival of armed soldiers, militias or gangs in their communities; killings, summary executions, sexual violence, and the burning and looting of homes; and the weaponry used to perpetrate these acts, often strikingly rendered in great detail.

To hear one of my colleagues from Amnesty talk about the exhibition please go to:
http://audioboo.fm/boos/42541-att-drawings-by-children-in-conflict-zones

Without a tough, comprehensive Arms Trade Treaty, irresponsible transfers of these kinds of weapons will continue to devastate the lives and livelihoods of children around the world. Let’s hope the drawings make an impact on the diplomats.

If you want to help us change the US position please take action at: www.controlarms.org/en/obama

Thanks for you support

Oistein