Foreign Office Minister to attend youth event on Arms Trade Treaty

The event has been organised by the Control Arms Coalition and follows on from the success of a similar event in 2009. More than 150 students from school and university groups will discuss the need for a robust treaty which, for the first time would globally regulate controlling the arms trade. 

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Burt said:

"The unregulated trade in conventional arms feeds conflict and undermines peace and security. Since 2006, the UK has been at the front of a global effort to introduce more effective and coherent international regulation of that trade.

"With less than two weeks to go to the start of the negotiations in New York, the Government remains committed to securing a robust, effective and legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty. Over the past six years, we have worked closely with NGOs like Amnesty International and Oxfam to achieve that aim. Events like today's are particularly important because they give the Government the opportunity to hear what is important to those who share our vision for what an Arms Trade Treaty could achieve."