THE ARMS TRADE TREATY: - OBLIGATIONS TO PREVENT THE DIVERSION OF

4 OBLIGATIONS TO PREVENT THE DIVERSION OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS first check the bona fides and reliability of added].” 16 the parties involved, the description of the arms and the potential consequences of the In this statement the General Assembly potential transfer. [...] 5 OBLIGATIONS TO PREVENT THE DIVERSION OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS factors.18 Different actors and entities 1.4 DICTIONARY MEANINGS OF THE within a sector will pose a higher or lower TERM ‘DIVERSION’ risk of diversion of an export depending on a variety of factors, including: the nature of In the absence of a definition of ‘diversion’ the arms to be exported, the professional in the ATT and in other conv. [...] It may and stockpiled, the available measures to be useful to first consider the dictionary prevent and mitigate specific risks, and the meanings of the term ‘diversion’.20 One strength of the compliance programmes such generic dictionary definition is: “the in the supplying and receiving entities and act of changing the direction or use of their States. [...] The “respective international obligations” of The inclusion of ‘terrorist acts’ in the States Parties to prevent such diversion 28 The statement on diversion in the ATT preamble is more elaborate than in the preamble of the 2008 General Assembly resolution (63/240) on the ATT, which stated, in part: “Determined to prevent the diversion of conventional arms, including small arms and light weapons,. [...] For example the term ‘international arms transfers’, but the preamble states that the Parties are did clarify for the purpose of the Register guided by the purposes and principles of of Conventional Arms that “international the Charter of the United Nations,30 and arms transfers involve, in addition to the that peace and security, development physical movement of equipment into or and human rights.