World

States failing to control transport of arms: Amnesty

The failure of states to control the transport of weapons around the world is increasing the risk of human rights violations.

Afp July 19, 2010

The failure of states to control the transport of weapons around the world is increasing the risk of human rights violations and war crimes, Amnesty International said in a report on Monday.

Transport companies registered in Britain, France, China, Russia and the US are able to move arms and munitions to countries where they could be used to commit serious violations of humanitarian law, the rights group said.

It alleged deliveries of cluster munitions on ships registered in Britain and managed by British and German companies were transported to Pakistan between March 2008 and February this year for use by the country's army. The shipments took place despite commitments by Britain and Germany to comprehensively ban the transfer and use of cluster munitions, Amnesty said.

The report, "Deadly Movements: Arms Transportation Controls in the Arms Trade Treaty", was published to coincide with the resumption of talks at the United Nations on a proposed international treaty on the arms trade.

In another example, Amnesty said a consignment of machine gun and anti-aircraft gun parts from Bulgaria were flown to Paris, Nairobi and Kigali, and ended up being used in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

More than 220,000 people were displaced and serious rights violations were committed in DRC, said Amnesty, adding that the Bulgarian, French and Kenyan governments had all failed to stop the transit of the weapons.

"Lax controls on arms shippers and flyers who increasingly move conventional arms around the world are not confined to jurisdictions with weak arms export and import laws," said Brian Wood from the London-based rights organisation. Amnesty urged the UN to consider the role of "transporters and other intermediaries in arms supply chains", instead of only focusing on the export and import licensing procedures of states.

COMMENTS (7)

Hannah | 13 years ago | Reply This show that even when "responsible" states export arms, the arms easily can end up in wrong hands, fueling conflict and undermine the right to peace and development. The Arms Trade Treaty has to cover all types of arms transfers to become a treaty of importance which will protect lives

Park | 13 years ago | Reply Arms are specially designed to hurt people. Without tough control on them, it will end up killing people. Regulating arms trade is really an urgent task for international society as Amnesty has pointed out. It's something that had to be there when there was the very first international arms trade. Hope that the states will actively engaged in this process to make strong treaty that will saves people.

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Habibi | 13 years ago | Reply Very well documented and written report. Transport activities should be included in the treaty. An effective treaty should take into account all activities around arms transfers. Congratulations to Amnesty.

Rasha Abdul-Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply As a Palestinian, I strongly welcome this initiative. Merchants of death need to be controlled in order to stop atrocities and save lives. It is imperative that transporters are controlled under the Arms Trade Treaty that is currently being negotiated at the United Nations to prevent irresponsible arms tranfers leading to serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. An Arms Trade Treaty without these controls would be simply ineffective.

Benedettu | 13 years ago | Reply Yes this is a responsability that States should endorse, to stp arms which can be use in serious violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, hindering stable development. How can they explain to people everywhere that the irresponsible arms transfers is not strongly control ? I met one in Kisangani a man and his children, who has to struggle all the day to go to the hospital because the Rwandese and Ungandaise army were fighting against each other with them in the middle. What kind of world is that ? What kind of world are we offfering to our children to leave in fea, under the threat of the arms becausewe never pay enough attention to the existing obligation of states to protect Human Rights ? (art 1 of the UN Charter) This Arms Trade Treaty should cover all conventional arms in its scope, if not it will be like a henhouse without a fence, letting the foxes in.

Hassan | 13 years ago | Reply In addition to being 100% right about this issue, especially regarding closing down the huge loopholes in the arms trade and the urgent need for a robust ATT, I must confess that I find Brian Wood dreamy.

Liz | 13 years ago | Reply It's clear that irresponsible arms transfers always have, and sadly still do, contribute to serious violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, hindering stable development. It's also terrible to think that cluster munitions are still being traded and are being delivered by companies registered in countries that have theoretically banned them. How can this be possible?! More thorough controls are evidently required. This Arms Trade Treaty clearly must cover all parties involved in the transportation of arms, including intermediaries, to that ensure legal arms transfers are not diverted and end up in the wrong hands. Let's hope this treaty can finally bring about a reduction in armed violence around the world.

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