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Oxfam have asked ISLP to recruit lawyers to help prepare for the upcoming global arms trade treaty negotiations.

ISLP and ISLP-UK are working with Oxfam International to create panels of treaty, arms control and humanitarian law experts around the world to assist NGO’s and under-resourced countries during the upcoming negotiations at the United Nations to achieve an Arms Trade Treaty (“ATT”).  ISLP has identified a volunteer, a retired partner from the New York office of Chadbourne & Parke, who will spend a minimum of three days per week over the next year organising and supervising the panels.  ISLP has also identified three volunteers, two of whom served in the U.S. Department of State and engaged in treaty negotiations and one of whom is an expert on arms-related issues, to serve as panelists. ISLP-UK is seeking British lawyers to serve on the UK panel.  This is a great opportunity for any individual with an interest in international human rights, humanitarian law and/or arms control to get involved in an important and high impact project.  Oxfam is looking for volunteers with significant knowledge of arms control or experience with international humanitarian law or international treaty negotiation.  A foreign language, particularly Spanish or French, is desirable but not essential.  The project will involve working as part of a team of lawyers to provide advice to the members of the Control Arms NGO alliance, as they engage in discussions at the UN on the various provisions that will be proposed for the Arms Trade Treaty.

The Background.  A patchwork system of differing national and regional regulation means that there are no comprehensive global regulations on the global trade in conventional arms.  This allows unscrupulous arms dealers or governments to easily supply weapons, even where they know they may be used for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, or fuel conflict and undermine development.  All other weapons types are subject to global treaties (e.g., nuclear, biological, chemical).  In 2006, after years of campaigning by NGO’s, the UN agreed to start discussing an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).  Negotiations are ongoing with the final negotiating conference taking place in July 2012.

The Impact.  Irresponsible arms deals fuel conflict, poverty and serious human rights abuses.

NGO’s with a strong interest in eliminating the trade in arms, particularly small arms such as machine guns, have an opportunity to play a critical role in the UN negotiations, but many of them do not have sophisticated legal or diplomatic counsel. It is vital that the NGO Control Arms Alliance and small States have access to high quality legal advice so they can participate effectively in the discussions.  The panels of experts, situated around the world, will be available to answer questions as they arise, thus providing critical advice when needed to inform the comments and arguments being presented by NGO’s and affected States.  The ATT Legal Response Network will provide information, research and real time legal advice during negotiating sessions, as well as longer-term advice and support to State parties and NGO’s.

This is a wonderful opportunity to work with likeminded senior lawyers from around the globe, and assist in the development of what will undoubtedly be an historical treaty.

If you are interested in joining this network, or require further information please email Andra Moss at amoss@islp.org at ISLP and Fouzia Javaid at fjavaid@islp.org ISLP-UK.

Or sign up to our volunteer database here