ATT Secretariat

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

The administrative body, based in Geneva, that supports implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty by assisting states parties and managing reporting and meetings.
Where is the ATT Secretariat located?
Does the ATT Secretariat enforce the treaty?
How is the Secretariat funded?

Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2023, the ATT Secretariat in Geneva published the annual reports submitted by states parties on their conventional arms exports and imports for the 2022 calendar year.

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Research it like a delegate

The ATT Secretariat is the permanent support body established under Article 18 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2013 and entered into force on 24 December 2014. The Secretariat is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, a location selected by states parties at the First Conference of States Parties (CSP1) held in Cancún in 2015.

Its mandate, set out in Article 18(3), is deliberately narrow and administrative rather than supervisory. Core functions include:

Receiving, making available, and distributing national reports submitted under Article 13 (initial reports on implementation measures and annual reports on authorised or actual exports and imports of conventional arms).
Maintaining and publishing the list of national points of contact.
Facilitating the matching of assistance offers and requests for treaty implementation, including under the Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF) established at CSP2 in 2016.
Supporting the work of the annual Conference of States Parties, its working groups, and the rotating CSP Presidency.

The Secretariat is led by a Head, appointed by states parties. It operates on a modest budget funded by assessed contributions from states parties and signatory states, with the scale of assessments based on the UN scale adjusted for participation.

The Secretariat does not verify the accuracy of national reports, investigate alleged violations, or interpret treaty obligations — these remain the prerogative of states parties. This restrained design reflected concerns during the 2012–2013 negotiations that a stronger institutional body could intrude on national export-control decisions. Civil society organisations such as the Control Arms coalition and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) regularly engage with Secretariat-published data to track compliance and transparency trends.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the ATT Secretariat located?

In Geneva, Switzerland. The location was confirmed by states parties at the First Conference of States Parties in Cancún in 2015.

Does the ATT Secretariat enforce the treaty?

No. Its role under Article 18 is purely administrative — receiving reports, supporting meetings, and facilitating assistance. Compliance decisions rest with states parties.

How is the Secretariat funded?

Through assessed contributions from states parties and signatory states, calculated using the UN scale of assessments adjusted for ATT participation.