The ceremony was attended by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Angela Kane, as well as a number of Foreign Ministers and other guests. The Treaty was signed by 67 countries, including 25 European Union member states. Czech Republic together with 98 UN member states co-sponsored the draft resolution of the Treaty submitted to the General Assembly, where it was adopted on April 2, 2013, with 154 member states voting in favor.

            The aims of the Treaty are: to set the highest possible common international standards for the regulation or improvement of the regulation of the international arms trade; to prevent and eradicate illicit trade of conventional arms and prevent their misuse; to contribute to reducing human suffering and to contribute to international and regional peace, security and stability. The Treaty relates to all conventional weapons listed in the UN Register of Conventional Arms (battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers) and small arms and light weapons. Any contracting party may introduce, at the national level, a control system and export regulation of ammunition and munitions as well as parts and components that could be used for the production of conventional weapons. In order for the Treaty to enter into force 50 ratifications are required.

H.E. Ms Edita Hrda, Czech Ambassador to the UN signing the treaty