Arms control and human rights

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 (ATT) is finally within reach. Leading up to the Final ATT UN Conference in March 2013, all governments must complete the negotiations of the text of the treaty. Amnesty International believes it is crucial that the treaty includes:

  • Strong rules that protect human rights, preventing arms from being sent when there is a danger the recipients will use those arms to seriously violate human rights;
  • A control list that includes all types of weapons, munitions and other arms;
  • Clear rules to apply and monitor the Treaty with regular public reporting to ensure the treaty rules 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 or war crimes, those arms supplies must be stopped.

No more arms for atrocities or abuses!

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The threats to human rights of the international trade in conventional arms is not the only arms control issue addressed by Amnesty International. We also research and take action on problems posed by inhumane weapons of warfare, ‘less lethal’ weapons and inhumane technologies used in policing and prisons.

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News and Updates

Sudan: Indiscriminate bombing exacerbates humanitarian crisis in Southern Kordofan

17 April 2013

The UN Security Council and African Union (AU) must take immediate action to halt indiscriminate attacks in Southern Kordofan.

UN puts human rights at heart of historic Arms Trade Treaty

2 April 2013

The UN has adopted a new treaty that will prohibit states from transferring arms when they know they will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

UN: Iran, North Korea and Syria cynically block lifesaving arms treaty

28 March 2013

In a deeply cynical move, Iran, North Korea and Syria have stalled an Arms Trade Treaty aimed at prohibiting states from transferring arms to countries commiting serious abuses.

The long journey towards an Arms Trade Treaty

27 March 2013

Sometimes a simple but potentially revolutionary idea can change the world for the better. But it often takes a crisis to galvanize people to take action, and that's how the idea for a global Arms Trade Treaty was born.

UN: States must urgently shore up ‘serious deficiencies’ in draft arms treaty text

25 March 2013

Serious deficiencies in a new draft Arms Trade Treaty text would fail to prevent arms transfers to countries where they could be used to commit or facilitate summary and arbitrary killings, torture and enforced disappearances.

Reports

Sudan: No end to violence in Darfur: Arms supplies continue despite ongoing human rights violations

24 April 2012

The supply of various types of weapons, munitions and related equipment to Sudan in recent years, by the governments of Belarus, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, have allowed the Sudanese authorities to use their army, paramilitary forces, and government-backed militias to carry out grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Sudan. This ongoing flow of new arms to Darfur has sustained a brutal nine-year conflict which shows little sign of resolution.

No arms for atrocities or abuses: Commit to an effective Arms Trade Treaty

23 January 2012

Each year, the global trade in conventional arms carries an enormous human cost. In July 2012, UN member states will be invited to the UN conference to negotiate an Arms Trade Treaty. Now is the time to ensure that the Treaty contains the highest possible common standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. This briefing documents five personal stories in the context of human rights violations committed or facilitated using conventional arms in law enforcement or military operations.

Arms trade to Middle East and North Africa shows failure of export controls

19 October 2011

A number of key arms manufacturing countries supplied large quantities of weapons to repressive governments in the Middle East and North Africa.

Key elements for implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

13 July 2011

This document lists suggested key elements for “creating high common international standards” for national systems of licensing or authorisation for the export, import and other international transfers of conventional arms. It also sets out Amnesty International's position on key transparency measures and victim assistance.

Arms for Internal Security: Will they be covered by an Arms Trade Treaty?

17 June 2011

There is now a chance in the UN to establish a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) setting out commonly-agreed rules for strict national regulation and international monitoring of the trade and transfer of conventional arms. This briefing paper includes Amnesty International's proposal for the inclusion of the scope of equipment into an ATT including an indicative list of the conventional arms and a summary definition. It also includes examples of conventional arms that may, inadvertently, be excluded from the scope of the ATT.

Our Right to Know: Transparent Reporting under an Arms Trade Treaty

13 June 2011

Public reporting is a key means by which the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will become more than a set of obligations and actually affect States’ behaviour. Fully transparent reporting will build confidence amongst States and provide a basis for States and civil society to assess how the ATT is being applied in practice. This document focuses on why States should transparently report on their international arms trade and transfers. It also provides a brief overview of transparency initiatives to date, and outlines how a reporting mechanism could be incorporated into the Treaty.

How an Arms Trade Treaty can help prevent armed violence

2 March 2011

Current United Nations discussions on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) provide an opportunity to examine armed violence in the context of decisions concerning international transfers of conventional arms used in armed violence. This report is divided into two parts. Part I examines how an ATT with a clearly elaborated risk assessment process can make a contribution to the prevention and reduction of armed violence. Part II focuses on firearms-related homicide and emphasises the importance of adopting an approach to addressing armed violence that will encompass violence outside of armed conflict settings.

States failing to control movement of weapons to human rights abusers

19 July 2010

A new Amnesty International report, shows how transport companies are able to move conventional weapons and munitions to countries where they could be used to commit rights violations and war crimes.

Deadly Movements: Transportation Controls in the Arms Trade Treaty

19 July 2010

The proposed Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) should be designed to prevent unauthorised or irresponsible international transfers of weapons, munitions and related equipment internationally. This briefing note explains that inadequate regulation of arms transportation is a global problem, not confined to jurisdictions with weak arms transfer controls. The Arms Trade Treaty provides a critical opportunity to define high common international standards to address the adequate regulation of the physical movement of conventional arms.

Reform of security forces in Guinea must deliver justice for Bloody Monday massacre

23 February 2010

A new Amnesty International report documents extrajudicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment carried out by particular units of Guinea's armed forces last year.