On 19 March, SIPRI Researcher Lauriane Héau delivered a presentation at the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) working group meetings held in Geneva on 16–19 March, as part of the preparatory process for the 12th Conference of States Parties (CSP12).
The presentation took place during an in-depth discussion in the Working Group on Transparency and Reporting on the topic of ‘sources and means to collect data for reporting purposes and decision-making on substantive reporting issues’.
During the session, Héau highlighted key challenges that states parties encounter when identifying the most appropriate sources and methods for data collection for reporting purposes, as well as in decision making on substantive reporting issues. The presentation also examined good practices that states have developed in response to these challenges.
In addition, the presentation drew on lessons from the recent project Strengthening Cameroon’s Annual Reporting to the Arms Trade Treaty, carried out by the Republic of Cameroon with SIPRI’s support as an implementing partner and with funding from the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund. This included the development by Cameroon of a national procedures manual on ATT annual reporting, which is available in both English and French.