Day two at the ATT: Dialogue with the US

IPPNW's Dr. Cathey Falvo (right) and PSR's Elina van Schaik meet Ambassador Mahley and other members of the US delegation.

March 1, 2011 — On day two of the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the Arms Trade Treaty, IPPNW members met with members of the US delegation, including Ambassador Donald Mahley, to discuss health issues related to the ATT and public health approaches to preventing violence.

We listened to their views on a range of complex subjects including import, export, and human rights considerations. We offered to be a resource on health issues and in educating on and documenting the human costs of arms violence, which the Ambassador endorsed as very important to helping countries make informed spending decisions.

The IPPNW delegation was joined today by Dr. Omolade Oladejo from Nigeria who arrived to add her voice to our activities. IPPNW members participated in a range of other meetings with NGOs and state delegates to the ATT PrepCom. Tomorrow Dr. Ogebe Onazi from Nigeria will provide a physician’s perspective on armed violence and development as part of a panel sponsored by IANSA, Amnesty International, and the Permanent Mission of Norway .