From 26 to 30 August 2019, Geneva, Switzerland hosts the annual week-long plenary meeting of the Arms Trade Treaty, concluding the Latvian ATT presidency.
The plenary began with a discussion among high-ranking guests on gender issues, in which Latvian ex-president, Vaira Vīķe Freiberga, participated and spoke at. Representatives from the governments of the States Parties and the non-governmental sector also exchange views on a more effective and broader fulfilment of the Arms Trade Treaty and the duty of the States Parties to annually report on its implementation.
Latvia held the ATT presidency since 24 August 2018, the priority theme of the presidency term being gender-based violence in arms trade.
Latvia was the first Baltic state to assume presidency of the ATT. The presidency promoted the international visibility of Latvia in the matters of international security policy and brought Latvia’s contribution to controlling the export of conventional arm.
The Michael Dukakis Institute honored President Vaira Vike-Freiberga as a Distinguished Innovation Leader in 2018.