The Arms Trade Treaty Working Group Meetings will run from 4 to 7 February at the Palais des Nations (schedule of the meetings). In brief, during the week participants will discuss treaty implementation related issues on Tuesday and Wednesday morning (the three priority topics under this item are: initiating work on Art. 9 on transit/transshipment; continuing work on Art. 6-7 on prohibitions and exports; and conducting further work on Art. 11 on diversion); diversion (an informal meeting will be held on Wednesday morning from 9-10.15am. For States Parties and signatories only); treaty universalization on Wednesday afternoon (looking in particular at universalization efforts, new areas of activities to consider, role of parliamentarians, civil society and industry in advancing the universalization of the ATT); and transparency and reporting on Thursday (see the annotated agenda). The first preparatory meeting to the ATT Sixth Conference of States Parties will take place on Friday (annotated agenda). The meetings programme also includes different side events covering different aspects of ATT related issues/ challenges. To stay tuned on developments during the working groups, make sure to keep an eye on the ATT secretariat and/or Reaching Critical Will websites.

On a different note, UNIDIR is hosting two events this week: a lunchtime discussion on the upcoming NPT Review Conference and need to be prepared to pursue a plan B if an outcome document cannot be reached on Wednesday (see Robert Einhorn’s analysis on this matter), and an event to explore WMD arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation in the Middle East and its broader implications on Thursday.

Meanwhile the Conference on Disarmament continues with business as usual. This week’s plenary meeting is scheduled on Tuesday morning (the full meeting schedule is available here).