America is the only country to have voted against a proposed United Nations treaty aimed at controlling international arms sales.
The proposed treaty, which human rights groups have promoted as a significant move towards keeping small arms out of conflict zones, was endorsed on Tuesday by 15 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, including the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, the South African archbishop.
The measure, aimed at closing loopholes in existing arms trade treaties, would investigate ways to impose standards on the import, export and transfer of weapons.
The resolution was adopted with 139 countries voting in favour of the motion, 24 abstentions and only one "no" vote.
The measure is likely to be discussed next month by the UN General Assembly, which will then have to approve it in order to make it a law.
Human rights groups have welcomed the motion, saying they hope that, in its final form, the treaty would require nations to officially authorise all arms deals and also prohibit weapons transfers to countries deemed likely to use the arms to violate their citizens' human rights.
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