Philippine soldiers recover illegal weapons from a private army. (Photograph: Erik De Castro/Reuters)

The UN General Assembly on Monday started to discuss the compiling and approving of an international treaty on the arms trade. Those taking part included the representatives of 193 UN members, international organizations, social groups, the media and arms companies. The event, which is scheduled to last until July 27^th, aims to reach a consensus on international standards on the import and export, and exchange of non-nuclear weapons. More than 30 well-known musicians, actors, and painters also signed an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon asking for a united international effort and urged for a treaty to control the arms trade around the world.