International weapons treaty

ast week, more than 60 countries, including Brazil, Japan and the U.K., came together to sign a major treaty regulating the global arms trade. The U.S. has announced it will sign soon. This is the first international movement to slow the illicit trade in weapons in the black market that are used to fuel conflicts and terrorist attacks.

The goal of this process is to create a protocol that is legally binding to regulate the legal trade of conventional weapons. It will also provide effective tools to prevent these shipments from being diverted to the illegal market.

According to ambassador Antonio Jose Vallim Guerreiro, a member of the Brazilian Conference on Disarmament, the negotiation process of this legislation took seven years to complete and Brazil has been on board this process from the early stages.

He added that for Brazil, this treaty represents a milestone in the pursuit of a more peaceful and secure world. It also protects citizens in situations of conflict and will reduce urban armed violence.

“Each one was crucial in the realization of this aspiration,” he said. “Brazil is fully committed to ensuring that the balanced, objective and non-discriminatory approaches prevail, as well as international cooperation and assistance to ensure a central role in all efforts.”

Any company that does international business, like with Brazil, would be wise to partner with Brazilian lawyers to investigate how this treaty could impact shipping processes. Being away of the changes before they take effect can keep a business ahead of the competition.

Factors on selecting an Arbitrator

Anyone who has ever seen court proceedings is aware of the key players in trial settings. Prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and bailiff are nearly always present, but there are other ways that disputes between parties can be settled that require a different group of legal professionals. One of them is the arbitrator.

One who acts as a “judge” at an arbitration hearing—another form of legal dispute resolution that is similar to a trial—an arbitrator is chosen earlier on in the legal process. It is not uncommon for parties and lawyers to gather and discuss the possible candidates. There are several different factors that must be considered when selecting the right arbitrator.

Part of the Arbitration Act covers the arbitrator selection process, as it mandates impartiality, however, there are many more factors to be considered aside from independence. These include things like competence, diligence and discretion.

The arbitrator selection process will be affected by the nature of the case. An arbitrator for a case involving the building of an airport may not be considered the best option for dispute resolution in a niche industry like coffee beans. There are also cases that require specific procedural knowledge that will make more experienced arbitrators more attractive. If that case is international, a candidate who speaks the respective language with enough authority to discuss legal matters should be the first choice.

With all these factors considered, the parties’ lawyers can come together and select the candidates they want. To ensure a fair proceedings for both parties, selecting the right arbitrator is key.