Under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), states parties are obliged to establish and maintain an effective transfer control system for conventional arms and to take steps to address the diversion of conventional arms, particularly small arms and light weapons (SALW). Many states from Latin America and the Caribbean will require assistance to effectively implement these provisions.

In recent years a wide range of ATT-focused and ATT-relevant cooperation and assistance activities have been carried out with partner states in Latin America and the Caribbean with the aim of building states’ capacities in these areas. This Background Paper presents the first overview of these efforts. In doing so, the paper highlights potential gaps in the types of assistance provided to date and proposes mechanisms through which stakeholders can better coordinate their efforts.

This paper draws from an online database 'Mapping ATT-relevant Cooperation and Assistance Activities' built by SIPRI and the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa in 2015 to cover sub-Saharan Africa, and expanded by SIPRI and the UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2016 to cover Latin America and the Caribbean.

Contents

I. Introduction

II. Arms transfer and SALW controls in Latin America and the Caribbean

III. ATT-focused and ATT-relevant cooperation and assistance activities

IV. Cooperation and assistance activities in Latin America and the Caribbean

V. Conclusions