The Bahamas Participates in UN Arms Trade Treaty in Geneva

Bahamian Delegation at ATT CSP-10 From Left to Right: Dr. Jennifer Bethel, Ms. Marjorie Julien, ACP Earl Thompson, Ms. Kenrah Newry and Ms. Meghan Cooper, Bahamas Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva

The Bahamas participated in the Tenth Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (CSP-10), held from the 19^th – 23^rd August, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme, “The Role of Interagency Cooperation in the Effective Implementation of Arms Trade Treaty Provisions.” The Bahamas was represented by an inter-Ministerial delegation comprising of Mr. Earl Thompson, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Royal Bahamas Police Force; Mrs. Kenrah Newry, Acting Deputy Director General, Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs; Dr. Jennifer Bethel, Director of Research and Development Section, Ministry of National Security; and Ms. Marjorie Julien, Head of Multilateral and Political of Affairs Bureau.

The aim of the Conference is to work towards full implementation and universalization of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Bahamas became a State Party to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), having ratified the Treaty on 25^th September, 2014 which entered into force on the 24^th December, 2014. Thus, CSP-10 marked the 10^th anniversary of the entry into force of the ATT. Most notably, The Bahamas was amongst the first countries to have signed the Treaty upon its opening to signature on the 3^rd June 2013. In this way, The Bahamas demonstrated its strong support and commitment to the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty. The Bahamas played a pivotal role, along with CARICOM in the adoption of the ATT.

Bahamian Delegation visit the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the UN and other International Organizations From Left to Right: Mr. Charles Gibson, Mr. Darren Carter, Ms. Sasha Dixon, ACP Earl Thompson, Ms. Kenrah Newry, Dr. Jennifer Bethel, Meghan Cooper, Ms. Marjorie Julien

The Bahamas has been fully engaged in the preparatory process of CSP-10, which yielded critical capacity building support for The Bahamas as it jumpstarted the process of establishing an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the National Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty. The Inter-Ministerial Committee has successfully completed The Bahamas’ Initial Report and is now in the process of finalizing the Report in consultation with the relevant Ministries before its submission to the ATT Secretariat. This marks a significant step in meeting The Bahamas’ obligations under the Treaty and is a testament of the critical role inter-agency cooperation play in the effective implementation of the Treaty nationally.

As a Small Island Developing State geographically dispersed and located in a strategic route for the trans-shipment of conventional arms and related trans-organised criminal activity, the illicit trade and use of small arms and light weapons represents an enormous challenge for The Bahamas and the region, by extension.  Thus, the universal implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty is critical.  As a non-exporting State with limited conventional arm importation, The Bahamas heavily relies on the full and transparent implementation of the Treaty and its associated programmes, protocols and instruments.

The Bahamian delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Permanent Mission of The Bahamas to the UN and other International Organizations for a briefing on our national objectives on arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation and stockpile management. The Bahamian delegation will continue its work over the course of the next year in preparation for the convening of the Eleventh Conference of States Parties to the ATT (CSP-11) to be held in August 2025.