Opening of Final Conference on Arms Trade Treaty

Wide view of the conference hall as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre on screens) addresses the opening of the Final UN Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty, which is taking place in New York through 28 March 2013. The Treaty would establish high common standards for international trade in conventional arms. Secretary-General Ban said in his statement that "the absence of the rule of law in the conventional arms trade defies explanation," given that the world has "international standards regulating everything from t-shirts to toys to tomatoes."