Global Arms Trade Dangerously Unregulated Says New Report
Press Release
International Action Network on Small Arms
Box 422, 37 Store St
London, WC1E 7BS
UK
Phone: +44 20 7953 7664
www.iansa.org
Amnesty International, Oxfam, IANSA Launch Global Control Arms Campaign
The global arms trade is dangerously unregulated, and allows weapons to
reach repressive governments, human rights abusers and criminals, says a
new report released today. To address these concerns, three international
organisations have joined to launch a global campaign in over 50
countries. The 'Control Arms' campaign aims to reduce arms proliferation
and misuse and to convince governments to introduce a binding arms trade
treaty.
Arms proliferation and abuse, have reached a critical point, fuelling
human rights violations, poverty, and conflict. Someone is killed every
minute by armed violence while many more suffer abuse and serious injury.
But arms are a dangerously unregulated global business, according to the
new report.
Among the report's findings:National arms export controls are riddled with
loopholes. The easy availability of arms increases the incidence of armed
violence, acts as a trigger for conflicts, and prolongs wars once they
break out. Civilians are increasingly being targeted.
Conflict and armed crime prevent aid reaching those who desperately need
it, and often lead to the denial of health care and education.
The 11 September 2001 attacks and the resulting 'war on terror' have
fuelled weapons proliferation, rather than focusing political will on
controlling arms. The 'war on terror' has led to increasing numbers of
arms being exported, particularly by the US and the UK, to new-found
allies (such as Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines) regardless of
human rights or development concerns."Each year hundreds of thousands of
people are unlawfully killed, tortured, raped and displaced through the
misuse of arms. With the 'war on terror' dominating the international
agenda, there should be renewed interest in arms control. Yet the reverse
has occurred. The vicious circle of arms transfers, conflict and abuse can
and must be stopped," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty
International.
To address these concerns, Amnesty International, Oxfam and the
International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) have jointly launched
the global Control Arms campaign. The campaign will focus on promoting an
international treaty covering arms transfers - the Arms Trade Treaty - as
well as a number of regional and locally appropriate measures designed to
limit arms proliferation and misuse.
"The arms trade is out of control. It is a global problem with horrific
local consequences - and it is poor people who suffer the most. An Arms
Trade Treaty is desperately needed, to stop the flow of arms to abusers
and to help make all our societies safer," said Barbara Stocking, Director
of Oxfam.
The report describes how the possession of increasingly lethal weaponry is
becoming an integral part of daily life in many parts of the world. Among
farmers in northern Uganda, AK47s are replacing spears; in Somalia
children are now named "Uzi" or "AK"; in countries such as Iraq,
there is
now more than one gun per person.
"Governments, preoccupied with a search for nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons in their fight against 'terrorism', have essentially
ignored the real 'weapons of mass destruction' - small arms. So they
continue to proliferate, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives,"
said Rebecca Peters, Director of the International Action Network on Small
Arms (IANSA).
Alongside the call for an Arms Trade Treaty, the Control Arms campaign is
also calling for:Governments to develop and strengthen regional
arms-control.
Governments to rigorously control national arms exports, brokers and
dealers, and do more to prevent law enforcers misusing their weapons and
to protect citizens from armed violence.
Local authorities and community leaders to help improve safety at a
community level by developing projects to reduce the local availability
and demand for arms.For more information about the report (Shattered
Lives: The Case for Tough International Arms Controls) and the Control
Arms campaign, visit www.controlarms.org.
Date of Release: October 9, 2003
Press Release
International Action Network on Small Arms
Box 422, 37 Store St
London, WC1E 7BS
UK
Phone: +44 20 7953 7664
www.iansa.org
Amnesty International, Oxfam, IANSA Launch Global Control Arms Campaign
The global arms trade is dangerously unregulated, and allows weapons to
reach repressive governments, human rights abusers and criminals, says a
new report released today. To address these concerns, three international
organisations have joined to launch a global campaign in over 50
countries. The 'Control Arms' campaign aims to reduce arms proliferation
and misuse and to convince governments to introduce a binding arms trade
treaty.
Arms proliferation and abuse, have reached a critical point, fuelling
human rights violations, poverty, and conflict. Someone is killed every
minute by armed violence while many more suffer abuse and serious injury.
But arms are a dangerously unregulated global business, according to the
new report.
Among the report's findings:National arms export controls are riddled with
loopholes. The easy availability of arms increases the incidence of armed
violence, acts as a trigger for conflicts, and prolongs wars once they
break out. Civilians are increasingly being targeted.
Conflict and armed crime prevent aid reaching those who desperately need
it, and often lead to the denial of health care and education.
The 11 September 2001 attacks and the resulting 'war on terror' have
fuelled weapons proliferation, rather than focusing political will on
controlling arms. The 'war on terror' has led to increasing numbers of
arms being exported, particularly by the US and the UK, to new-found
allies (such as Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines) regardless of
human rights or development concerns."Each year hundreds of thousands of
people are unlawfully killed, tortured, raped and displaced through the
misuse of arms. With the 'war on terror' dominating the international
agenda, there should be renewed interest in arms control. Yet the reverse
has occurred. The vicious circle of arms transfers, conflict and abuse can
and must be stopped," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty
International.
To address these concerns, Amnesty International, Oxfam and the
International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) have jointly launched
the global Control Arms campaign. The campaign will focus on promoting an
international treaty covering arms transfers - the Arms Trade Treaty - as
well as a number of regional and locally appropriate measures designed to
limit arms proliferation and misuse.
"The arms trade is out of control. It is a global problem with horrific
local consequences - and it is poor people who suffer the most. An Arms
Trade Treaty is desperately needed, to stop the flow of arms to abusers
and to help make all our societies safer," said Barbara Stocking, Director
of Oxfam.
The report describes how the possession of increasingly lethal weaponry is
becoming an integral part of daily life in many parts of the world. Among
farmers in northern Uganda, AK47s are replacing spears; in Somalia
children are now named "Uzi" or "AK"; in countries such as Iraq,
there is
now more than one gun per person.
"Governments, preoccupied with a search for nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons in their fight against 'terrorism', have essentially
ignored the real 'weapons of mass destruction' - small arms. So they
continue to proliferate, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives,"
said Rebecca Peters, Director of the International Action Network on Small
Arms (IANSA).
Alongside the call for an Arms Trade Treaty, the Control Arms campaign is
also calling for:Governments to develop and strengthen regional
arms-control.
Governments to rigorously control national arms exports, brokers and
dealers, and do more to prevent law enforcers misusing their weapons and
to protect citizens from armed violence.
Local authorities and community leaders to help improve safety at a
community level by developing projects to reduce the local availability
and demand for arms.For more information about the report (Shattered
Lives: The Case for Tough International Arms Controls) and the Control
Arms campaign, visit www.controlarms.org.
Date of Release: October 9, 2003
