Every year, thousands of people are killed, injured, raped and forced to flee from their homes as a result of abuses and atrocities committed with conventional arms and ammunition. This briefing illustrates the role of each of the Permanent Five in the global arms markets, and highlights key measures in the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that need to be improved. Amnesty International is calling on political leaders and state officials to use their influence to secure an effective ATT by the end of March 2013.