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Updates on the Arms Trade

UN Arms Trade Treaty Briefing

R&T member John Hatto attended an Amnesty briefing on 9th May 2013 at the Human Rights Action Centre on the background to the UN's Arms Trade Treaty.

The briefing was given by Kate Allen and two colleagues also present at the UN Treaty Meeting. They described how they became involved in some of the first discussions on the arms trade over 20 years ago.

All three speakers gave graphic descriptions of the many twists and turns in subsequent negotiations, which eventually led to the current treaty. They expressed the hope that more than 50 countries will sign up to implement the required legislation.

TRAKNAT Meeting with Zac Goldsmith MP

A number of R&T members joined TRAKNAT to meet Zac Goldsmith MP at Portcullis House, Parliament on Monday 13th May. They urged the MP to call upon Vince Cable’s Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) department to do more to regulate the arms trade.

TRAKNAT coordinator Paul Tippell highlighted the worrying fact that the UK Government actively promotes weapons sales to some of the world’s most repressive regimes, and co-sponsors the world’s largest arms fair. Zac Goldsmith agreed to call upon the Government to be more transparent about its processes for selecting and inviting delegates, as well as publishing a full delegate list in advance of the arms fair.

Overall, this meeting was more encouraging than the previous public meeting held last November with Vince Cable MP.

For further information see: Twickenham, Richmond and Kingston Against the Arms Trade (traknat.org.uk)

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