ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1 Seventh Conference

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

02 September 2021

Submitted by: the ATT Secretariat

Original: English

Arms Trade Treaty

Seventh Conference of States Parties

Geneva, 30 August – 03 September 2021

FINAL REPORT

The Final Report of the Seventh Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, which took place from 30

August – 03 September 2021 in hybrid format in Geneva, Switzerland, consists of three parts and an Annex as

follows:

I Introduction

II Organization of the Conference

III Decisions and Recommendations

Annex List of Documents

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The Arms Trade Treaty entered into force on 24 December 2014 in line with the provisions of

Article 22(1) of the Treaty.

2. Article 17(1) of the Treaty states that “A Conference of States Parties shall be convened by the

provisional Secretariat, established under Article 18, no later than one year following the entry into force

of this Treaty and thereafter at such other times as may be decided by the Conference of States Parties”.

Article 17(4) (a-g) further states that “The Conference of States Parties shall:

(a) Review the implementation of this Treaty, including developments in the field of conventional

arms;

(b) Consider and adopt recommendations regarding the implementation and operation of this Treaty,

in particular the promotion of its universality;

(d) Consider issues arising from the interpretation of this Treaty;

(e) Consider and decide the tasks and budget of the Secretariat;

(f) Consider the establishment of any subsidiary bodies as may be necessary to improve the

functioning of this Treaty; and

(g) Perform any other function consistent with this Treaty.”

3. In accordance with the provisions of Article 17, the First, the Second, the Third, the Fourth, the

Fifth and the Sixth Conferences of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty were held in Mexico, 24–27

August 2015, in Switzerland, 22–26 August 2016, and 11-15 September 2017 respectively, in Japan, 20 –

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

24 August 2018, in Switzerland, 26-30 August 2019 and in written format 17-21 August 2020. The Seventh

Conference of States Parties was held in hybrid format (with some delegates participating virtually via the

Zoom platform and other delegates participating in person) in Geneva, Switzerland, on 30 August – 03

September 2021 in compliance with Article 17. The Conference was held at the Centre International de

Conférences Genève (CICG).

4. To support the implementation of the Treaty at the national level, the Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF)

established under Article 16(3), made further progress through disbursement of funds to Treaty

implementation projects at a national level. To date, the VTF has funded 52 implementation projects in

different regions. In the short period of its existence, the VTF has presented a useful ATT facility to support

practical implementation of the Treaty.

5. The three ATT Working Groups established by the Third Conference of States Parties - the Working

Group on Effective Treaty Implementation, the Working Group on Transparency and Reporting and the

Working Group on Treaty Universalization - made further progress in their work. In the intersessional

period of the Seventh Conference of States Parties, the three ATT Working Groups convened one series

of virtual meetings on 26-29 April 2021, during which States Parties and other stakeholders exchanged

information and views on practices and challenges related to Treaty implementation, transparency and

reporting, and universalization. The ATT Working Group on Transparency and Reporting also held informal

consultations virtually from 29-30 June 2021. In addition, remote consultations were held intersessionally

to finalise documentation arising out of the April meetings that was to be submitted to CSP7 for

consideration and decision. All stakeholders were invited to submit their written comments on the

documentation via the ATT Secretariat by 23 June 2021.

6. To prepare for this Conference, one informal preparatory meeting was convened alongside

meetings of the Working Groups on 30 April 2021. The meeting was held virtually with the President of

the Conference and the ATT Secretariat being livestreamed via Zoom from Geneva, Switzerland, the seat

of the Secretariat to the Treaty.

7. The Secretariat convened the Conference in fulfilment of Article 17(1) of the Treaty. On 31 May

2021, pursuant to Rule 12 of the Rules of Procedure, the Secretariat notified States Parties, Signatory

States and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his capacity as depositary of the Treaty, of the

Conference, its date and venue. On 06 July 2021, the CSP7 President announced the format and times of

the Conference. Furthermore, the Conference’s draft provisional agenda was circulated on 12 July 2021

in accordance with Rule 15.1 of the Rules of Procedure and, on 30 July 2021, all the Conference documents

were circulated and made publicly available on the Treaty website at

https://www.thearmstradetreaty.org/conference-documents?templateId=1456745.

8. As at 30 August 2021, the opening of the Conference, the Treaty had one hundred and ten (110)

States Parties. Meanwhile the Treaty has thirty-one (31) Signatory States that have not yet deposited their

instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval. On 18 July 2019, one of those Signatory States – the

United States of America – notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations, acting in his capacity as

depositary, that it does not intend to become a party to the treaty.

II. ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE

9. The Secretariat to the Treaty made arrangements and provided the necessary services for the

Conference, including the preparation of this Report.

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

10. The Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, 30 August – 03 September 2021 and was

attended by 103 States, a number of international and regional organisations and representatives of civil

society and industry.

11. Eighty-six (86) States Parties participated in the work of the Conference in accordance with Rule

1 of the Rules of Procedure: Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,

Barbados, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada,

Chad, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El

Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras,

Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania,

Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro,

Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Peru,

Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,

Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, State of

Palestine, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay,

and Zambia.

12. Fifteen (15) Signatory States participated in the work of the Conference in accordance with Rule

2 of the Rules of Procedure: Angola, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, Eswatini, Haiti, Israel, Malaysia, Nauru,

Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe.

13. The following two (2) States participated in the work of the Conference as observers in accordance

with Rule 3 of the Rules of Procedure: Gambia and Kenya.

14. The following seven (7) organisations participated in the work of the Conference as observers in

accordance with Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure: European Union (EU), International Committee of the

Red Cross (ICRC), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

(UNIDIR), United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), United Nations Office on Drugs and

Crime (UNODC) and the Wassenaar Arrangement.

15. The following thirty-three (33) civil society organizations, including NGOs, international coalitions

of NGOs, associations representing industry and implementing agencies, participated in the work of the

Conference as observers in accordance with Rule 5.1 and 5.2 of the Rules of Procedure: Action Sécurité

Éthique Républicaines (ASER), AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD), Association

of European Manufacturers of Sporting Ammunition (AFEMS), Associazione Nazionale Produttori Armi e

Munizioni Sportive e Civili (ANPAM), Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), Centre for Armed

Violence Reduction (CAVR), Conflict Armament Research (CAR), the Control Arms Coalition with

representatives from the following NGOs: Asociacion de lucha para el desarme civil (Aludec), Assistance

Mission for Africa (AMA), Amnesty International, Amnesty International France, Arms Control Association,

Asociación de Políticas Públicas (APP), Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP),

Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas, Caribbean Coalition for Development and the Reduction of Armed

Violence (CDRAV), Center for Peace Education, Miriam College, Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos, Comisión

Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, Committee of 100 in Finland, Control Arms,

Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa, (FECCLAHA),

FOMICRES (Mozambican Force for Crime Investigation and Social Insertion), Global Thought Mx, Harvard

Law School International Human Rights Clinic, Kikandwa Rural Communities Development Organization,

Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum, Liberia Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA), Liberians United

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

to Expose Hidden Weapons, Liberians United to promote society safety and development, Mechanism for

Search of Peace and Development Initiative (MI-RPD), Nonviolence International, Oxfam, PAX, Pax Christi

International, Peace and Human Security Resources, Peace Angels Project, People's Federation for

National Peace and Development (PEFENAP), Permanent Peace Movement, PIR Center, Project

Ploughshares, Recherches et Documentation Juridiques Africaines (RDJA), Regional Center for

International Development Cooperation (RCIDC), Regional Network on Peace and Security (RENOPS),

Réseau d'Action Sur les Armes Légères en Afrique de l'Ouest, section Côte d'Ivoire (RASALAO-CI), Réveil

Communautaire d'assistance aux Victmes (RECOVI), Saferworld, Security Research and Information Center

(SRIC), SEHLAC, Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA), Stimson Center, Swedish Peace and

Arbitration Society, TRANSCEND Pilipinas, University of Bradford, Vision GRAM-International, Women for

Peace and Democracy Nepal, and the Zambian Network for Human Rights Defenders. Further participation

came with Control Arms Foundation of India, Expertise France, Firearms and Ammunition Import/Export

Roundtable (F.A.I.R.), Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Group for

Research and Information on Peace and Security (GRIP), Groupement des industries françaises de défense

et de sécurité terrestres et aéroterrestres (GICAT), IM Swedish Development Partner, International Action

Network on Small Arms (IANSA), MAAT for Peace, Development and Human Rights, Meiji University

Research Institute for the History of Global Arms Transfer, Mines Advisory Group (MAT), National Rifle

Association of America–Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), Nonviolence International Southeast

Asia, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PFSALW), Paul Beijer Consulting, Peace

Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), Sporting Arms and Ammunition

Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Terra

Renaissance Japan, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, University Tübingen,

Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), and the World Forum on Shooting

Activities (WFSA).

16. In reference to Rule 7.4 of the Rules of Procedure, the Secretariat circulated a draft List of

Participants to all States Parties on 25 August 2021, contained in document

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/680/Conf.PartList, informing them of the composition of all delegations that have

registered as Participants to the Conference under Rules 1 and 2 as well as those that have registered to

attend as observers under Rules 3, 4, and 5, and requesting any possible objection by a State Party against

the representation of a delegation of a State Party, Signatory State or observer at the Conference to be

presented to the President no later than 13:00 local time, Saturday 28 August 2021.

17. At its opening session, the Conference was opened by His Excellency, Professor David J. FRANCIS,

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Sierra Leone. Statements were

delivered to the Conference by H.E. Mr. Sheik Omar FAYE, Minister of Defence, Republic of the Gambia;

Mr. Gilles CARBONNIER, Vice President, International Committee of the Red Cross; and Mr. Eugine

Nyuydine NGALIM, Executive Director, Cameroon Youth and Students Forum for Peace, Control Arms.

18. During the same session, the Conference received video messages from H.E. Mme. Marie-

Gabrielle INEICHEN-FLEISCH, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Confederation and H.E. Ms.

Izumi NAKAMITSU, Under-Secretary-General and UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.

III. DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

19. At its first plenary session on 30 August 2021, under item 2, the Conference adopted its Agenda

referenced ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/664/Conf.Agenda.

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

20. At the same plenary session and in accordance with Rule 10 of the Rules of Procedure, the

Conference confirmed Mr. Dumisani DLADLA, in his capacity as the Head of the Secretariat, as the

Secretary of the Conference.

21. The Conference welcomed the thematic discussion on Small Arms and Light Weapons and

Stockpile Management, the priority theme for the Conference, that explored how this subject could be

articulated in the context of the ATT. To that end, the Conference considered the proposed set of possible

areas for States Parties to consider for further inquiry and exchange or longer-term implementation

contained in document ATT/CSP7/2021/PRES/659/Conf.SALWPSSM.Rev3 submitted by the CSP7

President. Having examined different aspects of small arms and light weapons and stockpile management

issues in the context of the ATT, the Conference decided that:

a. ATT stakeholders should map and better utilise existing guidance and tools developed under

relevant international and regional instruments on preventing the illicit trade in SALW and

strengthening stockpile management and security in order to prevent diversion as a way to

strengthen ATT implementation.

b. The Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation should, as appropriate, formalise

discussions concerning post-delivery cooperation experiences from both exporter and

importer perspectives and should consider developing guidelines on cooperation and

assistance to ensure ongoing compliance with export documentation, including authorised

end-use.

c. ATT States Parties should share, as appropriate, information on effective and innovative

stockpile management programmes through updates to their ATT initial reports under section

7 a) i) of the ATT initial reporting template, plenary discussions or the restricted area of the

ATT Secretariat website.

d. States Parties are encouraged to provide information on their national practices relating to

“mitigating measures” in the context of Article7(4) on GBV prevention, including related to

stockpile security: what these can be and how they are implemented.

e. The Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation, with support from the ATT

Secretariat, should consider identifying and compiling a list of existing relevant bilateral and

multilateral assistance programmes within and outside the ATT, which aim to address the

illicit trade on SALW and stockpile management. This list should be made available to States

seeking such assistance.

22. Acknowledging the importance of universal adherence to the Treaty, the Conference welcomed

all Treaty universalization efforts undertaken, in particular those of the President of the Seventh

Conference of States Parties, Ambassador Lansana GBERIE. The Conference also welcomed the support

provided by the European Union to publish hard copies of the Universalization Toolkit in all official UN

languages. To take forward Treaty universalization, acknowledging and building on efforts by successive

presidencies, the Conference considered the Working Group on Treaty Universalization Co-Chairs’ Draft

Report to CSP7, contained in document ATT/CSP7.WGTU/2021/CHAIR/677/Conf.Rep, and noted the Co-

chairs’ findings that the following points will be important towards making progress on universalization:

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

a. On-going efforts are needed to promote understanding of the ATT’s objectives amongst

non-States Parties. All too often there is a misperception that this is a disarmament treaty.

b. It is important to engage in dialogue addressing the benefits of the ATT at both the

national and regional levels. Such dialogue can respond to concerns that States may have

about how joining the ATT will impact on their security.

c. For some States, cooperation and assistance will be essential to their joining and

implementing the ATT. For this reason, ATT States Parties and stakeholders must continue

to explore all avenues for promoting and supporting the Voluntary Trust Fund.

d. Direct dialogue with non-States Parties is needed to understand what are the challenges

to progressing universalization and where support could be provided.

e. Coordination and information sharing amongst ATT officeholders, the VTF Committee,

States Parties and ATT stakeholders will assist universalization efforts. Such coordination

could be facilitated through informal exchanges led by future Presidents.

f. ATT States Parties could make a significant contribution to Treaty universalization through

the Human Right’s Council Universal Periodic Review mechanism by recommending to

states under review to positively consider ratifying the ATT.

23. The Conference underscored the importance of effective Treaty implementation in advancing the

object and purpose of the Treaty. The Conference recalled that the revised multi-year workplans for the

Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation sub-working groups on Articles 6 and 7, 9 and 11 were

welcomed by States Parties in February 2021 via silence procedure, as living documents of a voluntary

nature to be reviewed and updated regularly by the Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation,

as appropriate, and taking account of work undertaken by the different Working Groups, and to be posted

on the ATT website.

24. The Conference considered the Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation Chair’s Draft

Report to CSP7, contained in document ATT/CSP7.WGETI/2021/CHAIR/675/Conf.Rep. Regarding the

activities to be undertaken in the intersessional period of the Eighth Conference of States Parties, it noted

that the Facilitator of the Sub-working Group on Articles 6 and 7 will begin his work on a list of possible

draft elements for Chapter 1 (Key concepts) of the proposed Voluntary Guide to assist States Parties in

implementing Articles 6 and 7. The Conference looks forward to the Facilitator’s presentation of the draft

elements during the first meeting of the Sub-working Group in the CSP8 cycle in 2022, and to thereafter

commencing focused discussions on Article 6 obligations as contemplated in the multi-year plan. The

Conference also noted that the Facilitator of the Sub-working Group on Article 9 will begin preparations

for a more in-depth look at the measures to regulate the transit and trans-shipment of arms by land, which

will be the focus of the next meeting of the Sub-working Group in the CSP8 cycle as contemplated in the

multi-year plan.

25. In addition, the Conference endorsed the Draft paper outlining the elements of a process for

assessing the risk of diversion, prepared by the Facilitator of the Sub-working Group on Article 11,

contained as Annex A to the Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation Chair’s Draft Report to

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

CSP7, as a living document of a voluntary nature to be reviewed and updated regularly by the Working

Group, as appropriate, and welcomed the publication of the document on the ATT website.

26. The Conference emphasized the significance of transparency and reporting as highlighted in the

overview presentation by the ATT Secretariat on the current status of reporting under the Treaty. The

Conference considered the Working Group on Transparency and Reporting Co-chairs’ Draft Report to

CSP7, contained in document ATT/CSP7.WGTR/2021/CHAIR/676/Conf.Rep, and:

a. Recalled that transparency is a key purpose of the Treaty and as such, the WGTR must

ensure that transparency is reflected in all its processes, discussions and proposals aimed

at the fulfilment of the objectives of the Treaty;

b. Reiterated that reporting is a fundamental obligation of the ATT, and submitting initial

and annual reports is an indicator of the commitment of a State Party to the Treaty;

c. Expressed its concern for the low rate of compliance with the reporting obligations;

d. Urged States Parties that are not fully compliant with their reporting obligations to submit

their reports or, in case of difficulty to do so, to make use of the available assistance

mechanisms in order to achieve full compliance with the Treaty’s reporting obligations;

e. Encouraged all relevant stakeholders to continue to implement the Outreach Strategy on

Reporting that was adopted at CSP4, and to use all available means to actively engage

with States Parties that are not fully compliant with the reporting obligations, in order to

raise awareness on the mandatory nature of reporting and to provide assistance upon

request;

f. Encouraged States Parties and signatory States to register online for access to the IT

platform and make use of the information exchange platform;

g. Endorsed the revised Initial reporting template, as contained in Annex C of the Co-Chairs’

report, and recommended its use by States Parties in compiling their initial reports in

accordance with Article 13 paragraph 1 of the Treaty;

h. Endorsed the revised Annual reporting template, as contained in Annex E of the Co-Chairs’

report, and recommended its use by States Parties in compiling their annual reports in

accordance with Article 13 paragraph 3 of the Treaty;

i. Endorsed the standing agenda-items and the recurring and specific tasks for the WGTR in

the period between CSP7 and CSP8, as included in Annex A of the Co-Chair’s report.

27. The Conference considered the Diversion Information Exchange Forum (DIEF) Chair’s Report to

CSP7, contained in document ATT/CSP7.DIEF/2021/CHAIR/673/Conf.Rep, and:

a. Recognized that because of the confidential nature of the DIEF and the sensitivity of the

relevant information, and in order to be meaningful and effective, Diversion Information

Exchange Forum meetings need to be held in-person and allow broad participation of

States Parties and Signatories;

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

b. Mandated the CSP8 President to organize the first formal meeting of the Diversion

Information Exchange Forum as soon as broad in-person participation is feasible, within

the timeframe and budget allocated for ATT meetings in 2022, and in line with its Terms

of Reference; and

c. Decided that the usefulness of the Diversion Information Exchange Forum will be

reviewed at the first CSP following two cycles of DIEF meetings.

28. The Conference considered the Working Paper presented by Argentina, the former President of

CSP6 (contained in document ATT/CSP6/2020/PRES/611/Conf.TranspInfExch.Rev4), acknowledging the

role of transparency and information exchange in preventing diversion. Having examined the

recommendations to the CSP contained in the document, the Conference decided that:

a. States Parties and Signatory States are encouraged to actively use the Diversion

Information Exchange Forum as a means to facilitate international cooperation in order

to prevent and eradicate diversion.

b. States are encouraged to use all available tools to exchange information, especially the IT

platform in the restricted access section of the Treaty Website, with the objective of

establishing free- flowing, fast and effective channels of communication.

c. States are encouraged to designate, communicate and update national points of contact,

as appropriate, in order to rapidly and easily identify national counterparts for

consultations and exchange of information Likewise, States are encouraged to submit

updates to their initial reports regarding changes in their national control systems as

required by Article 13.1 and, in particular, about changes in the implementation of Articles

11 and 15.

d. States are encouraged, pursuant to national laws, to hold consultations and exchange

information with the objective of verifying the authenticity of the import, export, transit

and/or trans- shipment documentation in cases of international transactions.

e. States are encouraged to hold consultations and exchange information to verify the

legality of users and final uses, as well as the entities and actors involved in international

transit and transshipment.

f. States are encouraged, subject to national laws and capacities, to engage in post-delivery

cooperation regarding exports and imports and to exchange information on issued

authorizations and the mentioned cooperation with the States involved in the operation

in order to facilitate early detection of diversion during international transactions.

g. It is recommended that, within the context of the operation of the Diversion Information

Exchange Forum, the States involve the different state actors that can intervene in the

detection of diversion cases, including export licensing and law enforcement officers in

each State, as well as, where appropriate and in accordance with paragraph 8 of the Terms

of Reference of the Diversion Information Exchange Forum , expand cooperation with civil

society, industry, academia, and other relevant non- state actors that can assist in

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investigating, establishing, identifying and//or addressing cases of diversion and

presenting them in the DIEF. In sharing information and presenting cases, States should

also consider the important role and the potential input of actors that are actually

involved in transit, transshipment, import, exports and brokering.

h. States are encouraged to exchange information at the bilateral, subregional, and regional

levels in other multilateral contexts related to the ATT. Likewise, States are encouraged

to establish mechanisms to share information from the ATT in order to promote the

exchange.

29. The Conference approved the ATT Secretariat provisional budget for the year 2022 as contained

in document ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC.FIN/661/Conf.2022Bud.

30. The Conference welcomed the proposal submitted by the Management Committee contained in

document ATT/CSP7.MC/2021/MC/672/Conf.PropAudit and, in accordance with Rule 10 of the ATT

Financial Rules, decided to reappoint Price Waterhouse Coopers as the independent auditor for the ATT

for a period of four years starting after the Seventh Conference of States Parties.

31. In reference to decisions of previous Conferences of States Parties regarding ATT financial

contributions, the Conference, again, expressed deep concern about the unpaid contributions of States

and called on States that have not done so to address their financial obligations in a prompt and timely

manner. The Conference highlighted the risks that the ATT process and its essential activities, including

the organization of future ATT meetings, will face if the situation is not addressed.

32. The Conference recalled that in February 2021, States Parties requested (via silence procedure)

the Management Committee to continue to prepare guidelines on the issue of “arrangements with the

Secretariat in relation to the discharge of its financial obligations” (reference Financial Rule 8.1.d) for

consideration at CSP7 as originally mandated by CSP5, based on the document proposed by the

Management Committee in Annex A to the Draft Elements for a Secretariat’s Procedure Regarding Rule 8

(1) d (contained in document ATT/CSP6.MC/2020/MC/609/Conf.PropFinArr8(1)d). The Conference

considered the draft elements for a procedure regarding Financial Rule 8.1.d (contained in document

ATT/CSP7.MC/2021/MC/674/Conf.PropFinArr8(1)d)), and adopted the process for making financial

arrangements contemplated under Financial Rule 8.1.d proposed by the Management Committee in that

document.

33. The Conference decided to hold its next formal annual session, the Eighth Conference of States

Parties, in Geneva, Switzerland on 22 – 26 August 2022, at the Centre International de Conférences

Genève (CICG), a venue generously provided for by the Swiss government. Furthermore, the Conference

decided that the informal preparatory meetings and the meetings of the Working Groups will also be held

in Geneva, Switzerland, with dates to be confirmed by the President of the Eighth Conference of States

Parties.

34. Pursuant to Article 17(3) of the Treaty, the Conference adopted the budget for the Eighth

Conference of States Parties, submitted by the ATT Secretariat as contained in document

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC.FIN/661/Conf.2022Bud, including costs for the informal preparatory meetings and

meetings of the ATT Working Groups. The Conference further decided costs for informal preparatory and

Working Groups meetings shall include costs for document translation and in-session interpretation. The

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

Conference emphasised that any indirect meeting costs, such as for travel and accommodation, shall be

borne by participants.

35. Pursuant to Rule 9.1 of the Rules of Procedure, the Conference elected, by acclamation, the

Permanent Representative of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament, Ambassador Thomas GÖBEL,

as the President of the Eighth Conference of States Parties.

36. Pursuant to the same Rule, the Conference elected, by acclamation, Japan, Latvia, Mexico and

South Africa as the four (4) vice-Presidents for the Eighth Conference of States Parties.

37. Pursuant to Section 3 of the Management Committee’s Terms of Reference, the Conference

appointed the following State Party representatives designated by each UN regional group, as members

of the Management Committee to serve for a period of two years up to the Ninth Conference of States

Parties: Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland and South Africa.

38. Pursuant to Article 17(4)(f) of the Treaty and Rule 42 of the Rules of Procedure, the Conference

mandates the President of the Eighth Conference of States Parties to appoint the Chairs of the ATT

Working Groups for a period until the conclusion of the Eighth Conference of States Parties.

39. The Conference warmly thanked Ambassador Lansana GBERIE of Sierra Leone for his dedication

and for all he has accomplished as President of the Seventh Conference of States Parties in the difficult

circumstances that have prevailed due to the COVID pandemic. The Conference acknowledged that

Ambassador GBERIE’s efforts to advance the interests of the Treaty, support States, and navigate the

obstacles posed by the circumstances of his Presidency, resulted in a successful Conference.

40. At its last plenary meeting on Thursday, 02 September 2021, the Conference adopted its Final

Report contained in document ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep, and as orally amended to be issued

as document ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1.

***//***

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

ANNEX A

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC.FIN/661/Conf.2022Bud

ATT Provisional budget estimates for the

financial year 2022, submitted by the

Secretariat

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/664/Conf.Agenda

CSP7 Provisional Agenda, submitted by the

President

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/665/Conf.PoW

CSP7 Provisional Programme of Work,

submitted by the President

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/669/Conf.AnnPoW

CSP7 Provisional Annotated Programme of

Work, submitted by the President

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/670/Conf.SecRep

Report on the ATT Secretariat’s activities for

the period 2020/2021, submitted by the

Secretariat

ATT/CSP7.MC/2021/MC/671/Conf.Rep

Report on the Management Committee’s

activities for the period 2020/2021,

submitted by the Management Committee

ATT/CSP7.MC/2021/MC/672/Conf.PropAudit

Proposal on the reappointment of PWC as an

independent auditor for the ATT, submitted

by the Management Committee

ATT/CSP7.MC/2021/MC/674/Conf.Rep

Draft elements for a procedure regarding

Rule 8(1)d, submitted by the Management

Committee

ATT/CSP7/2021/PRES/659/Conf.SALWPSSM.Rev3

Draft Working Paper: Strengthening efforts

to eradicate the illicit trade in small and light

weapons and ensure efficient stockpile

management, presented by the President of

the Seventh Conference of State Parties to

the ATT

ATT/CSP7.WGETI/2021/CHAIR/675/Conf.Rep

ATT Working Group on Effective Treaty

Implementation - Chair’s Draft Report to

CSP7

ATT/CSP7.WGTR/2021/CHAIR/676/Conf.Rep

ATT Working Group on Transparency and

Reporting - Co-chairs' Draft Report to CSP7

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

ATT/CSP7.WGTU/2021/CHAIR/677/Conf.Rep

ATT Working Group on Treaty

Universalization - Co-chairs' Draft Report to

CSP7

ATT/CSP7.DIEF/2021/CHAIR/673/Conf.Rep

Diversion Information Exchange Forum –

Chair’s Draft Report to CSP7

ATT/VTF/2021/CHAIR/678/Conf.Rep

Report on the work of the ATT Voluntary

Trust Fund (VTF) for the period August 2020

to August 2021, submitted by the

Chairperson of the VTF Selection Committee

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/679/SponProgRep

Report on the ATT Sponsorship Programme

for the period 2020/2021, submitted by the

ATT Secretariat as administrator of the ATT

sponsorship programme

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/680/Conf.PartList

draft List of Participants, submitted by the

Secretariat

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/680/Conf.PartList.Rev1

forthcoming, List of Participants, submitted

by the Secretariat

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep

draft Final Report, submitted by the

Secretariat

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

Final Report, submitted by the Secretariat

Other papers

ATT/CSP6/2020/PRES/611/Conf.TranspInfExch.Rev3

Draft Working Paper presented by Argentina

(CSP6 President) - Transparency and

Information Exchange

*** // ***

ATT/CSP7/2021/SEC/681/Conf.FinRep.Rev1

ANNEX B

STATEMENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

STATEMENT BY SOUTH AFRICA ON

THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP ON TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING

(WGTR)

Madame Vice President/Co-Chairs,

As this is the first time that we are taking the floor, please allow me to congratulate Sierra

Leone on the assumption of the Presidency.

South Africa wishes to thank you for the comprehensive WGTR Report that you have

submitted to CSP7.

My delegation has noted that it includes recommendations for possible adjustments to the

Initial Reporting Template and the Annual Reporting Template. We are supportive of

proposed changes to the templates that would address, as the Report states in Para.26, “the

most urgent clarifications, user friendliness issues, gaps and inconsistencies identified in the

current templates”. However, South Africa has previously expressed concern over reporting

burdens across the disarmament Treaty spectrum.

In this regard, the undue haste with which the Co-Chairs are driving this process with the

aim of having these draft amended templates adopted at CSP7 is cause for concern. In

relation to its work on the proposed draft amendments, the WGTR Report states that this

task was “carried out within the framework of the WGTR mandate endorsed at CSP6”. In

actual fact, the Report of CSP6 states that the “Conference endorsed the standing agenda-

items and the recurring and specific tasks for the WGTR in the period between CSP6 and

CSP7”, which relates to its continued work and not to any mandate to present these draft

amended templates to CSP7 for adoption by CSP7.

The Co-Chairs have unfortunately chosen to brush aside South Africa’s one specific

concern, which our delegation has raised both during the virtual informals and in written form

with them directly.

It is widely known that South Africa has consistently expressed its unease regarding the

proposed new addition to the section dealing with “Scope of report” in the reporting

templates. Our argument remains that withholding certain commercially sensitive or national

security information is permitted under, and is consistent, with the provisions of Article 13 of

the Treaty, without prejudice and need not be the subject of further discussion or the need

for any self-justification.

My delegation wishes to reiterate that the proposed new addition to this section is not legally

binding and that we will interpret it as such, meaning that we reserve the right to disregard

this addition when submitting our national report in terms of Article 13.

South Africa does not agree that this is a matter of great urgency, nor is it one that

addresses gaps and inconsistencies. My delegation, therefore, requests that the issue of

considering proposed adjustments to the reporting templates be further considered during

the period between CSP7 and CSP8, in order to resolve any differences in order to reach

consensus.

My delegation hereby requests that this statement be included as an annexure to the Final

Report of CSP7 as part of the official records.

I thank you.