No more arms for atrocities: Time for a bullet proof arms trade treaty

The irresponsible and poorly regulated arms trade fuels serious human rights abuses, armed violence, poverty and conflict around the world. We could change that now with an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

This global appeal is a joint action from Amnesty International in partnership with Control Arms, IANSA and ITUC.

War crimes, unlawful killings, torture and other serious human rights abuses have been committed around the world using a wide range of weapons, munitions and military and security equipment. These are often provided to perpetrators in almost unlimited supply, encouraging and prolonging unlawful violence. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, injured, raped and forced to flee from their homes as a result. Global society has no treaty to ensure the strict control of the international trade in conventional arms, while governments license irresponsible arms flows to fuel human atrocities and abuse.

States must stop allowing irresponsible transfers of arms and be made accountable to the international community. That is why since the 1990s Amnesty International has been campaigning for a global treaty to set rules for the strict regulation of the international arms trade.

Now an international Arms Trade Treaty is finally within reach. Leading up to July 2012, all governments will negotiate the text of the treaty at the United Nations. Amnesty International believes it is crucial that the treaty includes:

  • Strong rules that protect human rights, preventing arms from being sent to those who would most likely use them to seriously violate these rights;
  • A control list that includes all types of weapons, munitions and other arms;
  • Clear rules to apply and monitor the Treaty with reporting to ensure they are enforced.

Our message is simple – if there is a substantial risk that arms exported to another country will contribute to serious human rights abuses, those arms supplies must be stopped.

No more arms for atrocities or abuses!

*****
The international trade in conventional arms is not the only arms control issue addressed by Amnesty International. We also research and address problems posed by inhumane weapons, ‘less lethal’ weapons and inhumane technologies used in policing and prisons.

 

We the undersigned

Millions of people are being killed, injured, raped, repressed and forced to flee their homes every year.

Health, education and other services are being denied and livelihoods destroyed.

The world needs a strong Arms Trade Treaty that will prevent arms transfers if they are likely to contribute directly to serious human rights abuses, war crimes or poverty. The Treaty must cover all conventional arms including ammunition.

I call on every government to secure an ATT that effectively prevents arms from fuelling such atrocities and abuses.

Take Action here.