New Zealand opposition MP is visiting Fiji this week to encourage its government to join the Arms Trade Treaty.
Photo: AFP
The United Nations Treaty aims to regulate the international trade in conventional weapons for the purpose of maintaining international and regional peace.
Labour's Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su'a William Sio says if Fiji signs and ratifies the treaty it would lead the way for other Pacific states.
Su'a says joining the treaty will send a strong message.
"It is about sending a very strong signal to the countries that manufacture conventional weapons, that we want to regulate their movements, we want to monitor what they do for that. And it's about sending a clear signal that we in the Pacific take a very strong position in maintaining peace and security for our region."
Su'a William Sio says so far only Samoa, New Zealand and Australia have ratified the reaty.
Other Pacific Island states that have signed the Treaty but are yet to ratify it include Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
