Arms treaty now to prevent 'second Darfur'
Wednesday, 17 Sep 2008 09:37
Amnesty International UK says global arms treaty needed to end conflict in Darfur and human rights abuse in Burma
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Campaigners have today renewed calls for an international arms trade treaty amid claims the
Darfur conflict could have been prevented if one had already been in place.
Amnesty International UK said the arms trade was helping disgraced regimes such as Burma suppress human rights via brutal military crackdowns.
The human rights organisation has published a 125-page report - Blood at the crossroads: Making the case for a global arms trade treaty – ahead of a United Nations meeting on a potential treaty in October.
According to Amnesty, loopholes in global arms trade laws are allowing weapons to continue to pour into Sudan, while world powers such as China and the United States are continuing to block an all-encompassing treaty.
The group wants the UN to uphold the 'golden rule' of preventing arms transfers where there is a substantial risk they will be used to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
"Next month's decision at the UN is crucial," said Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen.
"Governments around the world cannot go on ignoring the untold suffering and dreadful abuses caused by irresponsible global arms transfers.
"World leaders have to uphold their obligations on human rights and to move forward on an international arms trade treaty which is underpinned by the 'golden rule' on human rights."
On attempts by China, India,
Pakistan and the US to block or water down proposals she added: "A small minority of countries want to turn a blind eye to blatantly irresponsible arms transfers, rendering most national arms controls and UN arms embargoes weak and ineffective.
"The UK cannot afford to rest on its laurels at next month's meeting. Its challenge – along with the other countries that support of the treaty – is to ensure that human rights remains integral to the treaty, and to deliver a working system in the shortest possible time frame."