Building Capacity for Effective Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) 2026
How can we contribute to a responsible arms trade?
This course explains the obligations and implications of being a State Party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and improves capacities to implement it with the aim of promoting a responsible arms trade and preventing illicit trafficking in arms.
A responsible arms trade requires knowledge and effective implementation of the prohibitions and obligations under international law regarding the international transfer of conventional arms that may be destabilizing or cause human suffering.
This course takes an in-depth look at the key concepts of the ATT and tests participants understanding through group work on case studies. It also covers other related means of ensuring a responsible arms trade, such as end use/r certification, fighting arms trafficking, and export controls.
Participants will benefit from the expertise of world-class practitioners and analysts, with many years of experience of the ATT and related processes.
Learning Objectives
Identify and understand the key provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty and to implement them effectively, taking into account related instruments of conventional arms trade control.
Modules
- Trends in the conventional arms trade
- History, negotiation and adoption of the ATT
- The key provisions of the ATT, including transfer, diversion, import, transit & transshipment, brokering, information exchange, record keeping, reporting, international cooperation and assistance
- End use & End user Certification
- Fighting Arms Trafficking
- Export Controls (The Wassenaar Arrangement)
- The Role of Civil Society in the ATT
- The Role of Industry in the ATT
All information you need to know (language, certification, technical and application process) before applying to the GCSP are available here.
You will receive a GCSP certificate once you have completed all the course modules to the satisfaction of the course director.
Who should attend
The course is primarily directed at government officials working in the field of conventional arms trade regulation. However, we would also welcome applications from those outside government working on, researching, studying or writing about the arms trade.
Completing the self-paced online course "An Introduction to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)" is a pre-requisite before participating to this course. You can apply before completing the self-paced module, but a proof of completion will be requested before the beginning of this course.
Costs
250 CHF
Early-Bird Discount of CHF 100 if you apply before 1 March 2026. GCSP Alumni qualify for a 20% discount on the standard rate. Get another 50 CHF off each if you bring a friend or colleague – you must ensure they mention your name in their online application.
Application Deadline: 9 Mars 2026
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The GCSP has run this ATT course since the establishment of the treaty ten years ago. In that time, we have trained hundreds of participants from all round the world. We regularly get feedback saying that participants are using what they learnt on the course in their professional work on arms.
The GCSP reserves the right to modify the dates, mode of delivery and fees of our courses. Sign up to stay informed.
For this outstanding course, GCSP has assembled an all-star cast of leading global experts on the legal frameworks that regulate the international arms trade. Learning from and engaging with the diplomats, advocacy leaders and analysts who have been directly involved in the creation of the arms trade treaty or who are actively implementing its stipulations was a unique and highly valuable opportunity. While being structured around and firmly anchored to the text of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the course moved beyond the theoretical, providing valuable insights on the ATT’s practical implementation and how practitioners might be able to contribute and deploy their expertise to make a real difference.
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