Support a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer because of an unregulated arms trade.
Musician and activist Emmanuel Jal knows more than most about the human impact of an arms trade that is out of control. Aged just 8 he was forcibly recruited as a child soldier to fight in Sudan's bloody civil war.
This year for the first time we have the opportunity to disarm dictators, warlords and child soldiers. In July, world leaders will meet in New York to draw up an historic document: the first ever international Arms Trade Treaty.
We want it to save thousands of lives and improve many more but it can only do so if it rules out transfers where there is risk that they would directly contribute to human rights abuses.
Urge your MP to be an Arms Trade Treaty champion!We are on the verge of what could be one of the greatest human rights breakthroughs in history. But we are not there yet. As David Cameron prepares a negotiating team to head to the UN, we need him to publically commit that the UK will not compromise on human rights. He has so far stayed silent on the issue but we think your MP can help get a statement before it is too late. If you hear back from your MP please email activism@amnesty.org.uk so that we can keep on top of responses. |
Sign our petition: No arms for atrocities
No one knows for sure how many hundreds of thousands of people were killed in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. But we do know that at least some of the weapons used to do the killing came from companies based in the UK and USA. The weapons were sold even though it was known Saddam Hussein was committing such atrocities.
The Arms Trade Treaty has the potential to stop sales like this going ahead. But it can only do so if it protects human rights. As one of the most influential players in the negotiations, we need David Cameron to commit to championing an effective Arms Trade Treaty.
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The Control Arms Campaign is an alliance of organisations calling for a robust Arms Trade Treaty. Follow the negotiations at controlarms.org |
Politicians respond
In response to your hard work and action taking, we've had three very positive statements from key politicians supporting a robust Arms Trade Treat:
- Labour leader Ed Miliband responded to over 7000 emails by reinforcing his commitment to a 'robust and effective global Arms Trade Treaty with comprehensive scope and robust parameters'. Read Miliband's full statement
- UK foreign Secretary William Hague responded to your lobbying on Facebook by stating that the 'UK Government remains totally committed to securing a robust and effective Arms Trade Treaty, with strong human rights and international law provisions at its core'.
- Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the UK will 'lead the charge for a robust, legally-binding treaty, covering all conventional weapons' Read Clegg's full statement on independent.co.uk
Many thanks to everybody for taking action. You are being heard!
Our focus
During 2012 there are two UN meetings at which the content of the Treaty will be debated and voted on by member states. The final preparatory meeting is 13 - 17 February, with the formal negotiations running from 2 - 27 July.
These offer our last opportunity to ensure that the treaty is robust and not just hollow law.
In the lead up to the meeting in February we are urging the leaders of the three main UK political parties to ensure that this country continues to champion robust legislation and lobby for a Treaty that:
- Protects human rights by preventing any transfer of arms where there is substantial risk that they will directly contribute to serious human rights abuses, war crimes or poverty
- Has a comprehensive scope of equipment to include all types of conventional weapons and equipment, their parts and components, as well as technology to develop, maintain and produce them. This must also include small arms, light weapons, ammunition and munitions of all kinds and weapons used for internal security.
- Includes all types of international arms trading so that it covers commercial sales and government deals, gifts and loans as well as all essential services to support these activities - including deals arranged my middle men (brokers), and arms transportation.
- Is enforceable and transparent to ensure all governments adopt strong national laws, rules and regulations to strictly control all weapons transfers from, into, via and through their territories, including all individuals and companies operating under its jurisdiction. All Governments must publicly report on their arms sales so they can be held accountable for their actions
- Enters quickly into force because, believe it or not, even once the Treaty is agreed it will only be binding if a set number of states introduce national legislation to ratify it. This number is to be determined at the final negotiations in July
Background
Every day at least 1,500 people die from armed violence and conflict.
We have been reporting widespread misuse of arms in serious human rights violations and killings for decades. Most recently, we highlighted the use of UK supplied defense vehicles being used in the crackdown against peaceful protestors in Libya.
Although there are global regulations for all sorts of things - from postage stamps to dinosaur bones - the arms trade, with all its violent consequences, has so far been allowed to function largely unrestricted in the absence of effective international regulations.
In 2006 the world took a major step forward - 153 governments voted at the UN to start work on developing a global Arms Trade Treaty. By 2009 the UN general assembly had launched a time frame for the negotiations, including one preparatory meeting in 2010 and two in 2011.
At these meetings it became clear that not everybody involved wants a robust Treaty - as it stands weapons such as tear gas and crowd control vehicles and even bullets may not be included within its scope.
The formal negotiations begin in July. With so much at risk we must work hard in the lead up to these remaining negotiations to ensure that human rights are enshrined in the Arms Trade Treaty.
This is vital because any legally-binding piece of legislation connected to the arms trade which is not comprehensive, nor includes binding human rights commitments, has the potential to be far more dangerous than having no treaty at all. Such a weak agreement would allow countries to continue to transfer weapons where they may be used to commit human rights abuses.
Reports
- Year of rebellion: The state of human rights in the Middle East and North Africa (PDF) 9 January 2012
- Arms transfers to the Middle East and North Africa: Lessons for an Arms Trade Treaty (PDF) 19 October 2011
- Arms Trade Treaty: National Licensing or Authorisation Systems (PDF) 12 July 2011
