Fired Up for human rights in pictures

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:19:03 +0000

Hundreds of people around the world have taken part in actions to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From Bangladesh to Burkina Faso, Australia to Austria and Paraguay to the Philippines, thousands of people lit candles, fires or flames as part of a mass demonstration in support of human rights.

Amnesty International has been collecting photos of actions by groups and individuals, the images are displayed below.

Time for a global response to global problems

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:02:15 +0000

by Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International

Terrorists go on a rampage of senseless killing in Mumbai. Exhausted and terrified refugees pour into Uganda to escape the fighting in eastern Congo. Ten people are executed in Iran. Three hundred thousand civilians are displaced in northern Sri Lanka.

Slowing rates of economic growth cast deep gloom around the world. Not a particularly auspicious moment to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Anniversaries are a time for reflection and review. It is true that in many respects the human rights situation today is vastly improved from that in 1948. The equality of women, the rights of children, a free press and a fair judicial system are no longer disputed concepts but widely accepted standards that many countries have achieved and others are aspiring to. But it is equally true that injustice, impunity and inequality remain the hallmarks of our time.

If there is one lesson to be drawn from recent events in Mumbai, it is that our liberties remain precious, under threat, and in need of constant vigilance and protection. Governments have a duty to protect people from terrorism, and they will be under pressure - as happened after 9/11 - to tighten security.

But in that process they must not repeat the mistakes of the US-led War on Terror. Detaining people indefinitely, holding them in legal limbo in prisons like Guantanamo camp, condoning or conducting torture, weakening due process and the rule of law are not the way forward.

Free societies are attacked by terrorists precisely because they are free. To erode our freedoms in the name of security is to hand victory to the terrorists.

It is not enough, though, simply to hold on to our rights. We must expand the benefits of human rights to all who are deprived, discriminated and excluded. The global financial crisis has shown how wrong was the assumption that unrestrained growth would inevitably lead to prosperity, and that the rising tide would lift all boats.

The tide has become a tsunami swallowing not only big financial institutions but also the homes and hopes of many poor people around the world. Millions of people are being pushed back into poverty even as billions of dollars are being invested in bailing out those very institutions that have brought us to this state.

Wealthier nations have resources and established safety nets to help those who fall behind in their country. The poor in poor and emerging economies have to fend for themselves. Those with the least margin of survival will pay the most for the greed of the bankers in Wall Street and the City of London.

Women working in a garment factory in Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam, miners hauling minerals from Mano River in West Africa, workers at an industrial estate in the Pearl River Delta in China, telephone operators at an outsourced office in Gurgaon, India will bear the heaviest brunt of the economic decline. If falling remittances and international aid force governments to cut back on social programmes and poverty eradication projects, the consequences could be disastrous.

In economic terms, growth is being wiped out. In human rights terms, the rights to food, education, housing, decent work and health are under attack. We face a dual challenge: fulfilling human rights in order to eradicate poverty and preserving human rights in the face of terrorism.

Human rights are universal – every person is born free and equal in rights and dignity. Human rights are indivisible – all rights, whether economic, social, civil, political or cultural - are equally important. There is no hierarchy of rights. Free speech is as essential as the right to education, the right to health as valuable as the right to a fair trial.

The tectonic plates of global power are shifting, and there is now realization among world leaders that they must work together if they are to deal with the economic maelstrom. The invitation recently extended by the US Administration to 20 leading economies of the world – including China, Saudi Arabia, India and Brazil - to plan a global response to the economic crisis is a concrete sign of the new drive to be inclusive.

Being inclusive does not only mean fitting more chairs around the existing table. It also means signing up to global values. The Universal Declaration provides those set of values.

In 1948, in the face of the enormous challenges, world leaders turned to the Universal Declaration as the affirmation of their common humanity and the blue print for their collective security. Today’s world leaders must do the same.

Thousands get Fired Up for human rights

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:22:32 +0000

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International is organizing a series of Fire Up! events around the world.

The organization is mobilising its 2.2 million members to recognize the historic moment when world leaders committed themselves to supporting and promoting human rights. From Bangladesh to Burkina Faso, Australia to Austria and Paraguay to the Philippines, thousands of people will light a candle, fire or flame as part of a mass demonstration in support of human rights.

There are confirmed Fire Up! events happening in 27 countries with over 100 cities and towns taking part. Candles will also be lit online by people taking part in Fire Up! on their websites and blogs.

Amnesty International supporters will also Sign Up! by adopting the Passport for Human Rights. People signing up for the passport demonstrate their commitment to stand up for universal, indivisible human rights - the belief that that everyone has rights, regardless of their race, colour, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or age.

The 60th anniversary of the landmark declaration has also been marked by the Small Places Tour. Musicians, led by Peter Gabriel and U2's The Edge, have been raising their voices in song and action in hundreds of concerts held around the world. The tour started on 10th September and ends on 10th December, the date of the anniversary.

Take your own Fire Up photos

There are confirmed Fire Up events happening in 27 countries with over 100 cities and towns taking part: These countries are: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, India, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan and the UK.

See your country's local Amnesty International website for more details.

World musicians celebrate UDHR's 60th anniversary

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:00:19 +0000

Stephen Marley, Angelique Kidjo and Hugh Masekela are just a few of the renowned musicians from around the world to take part in a musical project, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The song and video, The Price of Silence, also features the talents of Belgian singer Natacha Atlas (best known for her work with Transglobal Underground), American singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant (formerly of 10,000 Maniacs), Chali 2na from hip-hop outfit Jurassic 5, French-Algerian musician Rachid Taha, Michael Franti (of American band Spearhead) and Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo.

The song, based on the Grammy-winning Colombian group Aterciopelados' Canción Protesta, is produced by Andres Levin, co-founder of Music Has No Enemies, a music production company dedicated to working for social causes and not-for-profit organizations.

Aterciopelados also feature in the song, as do Julieta Venegas (Mexico), Emmanuel Jal (Sudan), Kiran Ahluwalia (Canada/India), and Cucu Diamantes and Pedro Martinez of Yerba Buena (U.S./Cuba).

A special EP featuring the full track is now available exclusively through Nacional Records on iTunes to benefit Amnesty's human rights work around the world. The EP costs $1.99 and also features a radio edit, a Spanish version and the original version of Canción Protesta.

Directed by Joshua Atesh Litle, the video is set in the United Nations General Assembly and is an urgent plea to renew the commitment to human rights everywhere. It starts with a prologue from Hollywood actor Laurence Fishburne, written by poet Alicia Partnoy, who spent two years in prison during Argentina’s Dirty War.

A collaboration between the world music website and radio station Afropop Worldwide, Amnesty International and Link TV Television Without Borders, The Price of Silence is also the subject of a special radio show.

First broadcast on 6 December, this powerful show features five of the artists involved in the project. The artists share their thoughts and feelings about the fight for human rights in their countries and around the world, and share their songs that these struggles have inspired.

Listen to the radio broadcast

Making human rights a reality

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:56:26 +0000

Around the world, in every region, in every country, there are people who work tirelessly to make human rights a reality. Without these people, who often put their life and liberty on the line, human rights would only be an abstract concept – something everyone has in principle or on paper, but not all have in reality.

Who are these people defending human rights? They include:

grassroots community activists who protest against companies which destroy their local environment and livelihoods;
the surviving families of people who have been forcibly disappeared who demand answers and justice;
people determined to bring to light the true scale of sexual violence against women, and who provide unconditional support to victims;
doctors who distribute essential medicines against the will of the government;
lawyers who defend human rights activists and provide legal support, often without fees;
journalists who risk their lives to uncover corruption and human rights violations;
trade unionists who campaign for workers' rights to live in dignity;
people who work for human rights for their families, communities and wider society.

These people do their work on the street, in the court room, in the hospital – everywhere human rights are abused or violated. Those who come to the defence of those whose very rights are at stake – and do so in a peaceful manner while respecting all human rights are those we call human rights defenders.

Defending human rights is essential work not only for others – by defending others they are exercising their own human rights -- such as the freedom of expression or association. To be a human rights defender is to demand that everyone's – including their own – rights must be respected and protected at all times. No matter what.

Yet it is this claim of their own human rights which causes many to want to silence them. Human rights defenders commonly face intimidation, threats and even death at the hands of those who disagree with them – both from state authorities and others. Sometimes members of their own family and/or their community isolate and try to silence them.

Ten years ago, all members of the United Nations committed to promote and protect the work of human rights defenders. The resulting UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders says we all have the right to defend human rights.

Ten years on, however, and 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, defending human rights remains a contested and sometimes dangerous business. Everywhere there are human rights defenders, there are states forgetting or wilfully ignoring what they agreed in 1998.

The future of everyone's human rights are inherently connected to the ability of human rights defenders to operate freely and without intimidation.

"In this anniversary year, let’s recommit to the legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders and celebrate their ongoing commitment to make human rights a reality," said Eleanor Openshaw, Human Rights Defenders Coordinator, from Amnesty International.

Who are the human rights defenders?

Africa - Nigeria
Patrick Barigbalo Naagbanton

Americas – Venezuela
José Luis Urbano and the Foundation for the Defence of the Right to Education

Asia-Pacific – Thailand
Somchai Homlaor

Europe and Central Asia – Russian Federation
Svetlana Gannushkina

Middle East and North Africa – Egypt
Ahmed Seif El-Islam Hamad

China, Iran and Jamaica go against trend on executions

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:27:27 +0000

The execution of a Chinese scientist on Friday is the latest in a series of executions that are going against the global trend towards a moratorium on the death penalty.

Wo Weihan, a 59-year-old medical scientist who was found guilty of spying for Taiwan, spent 30 minutes with his family on the day before his execution. It was the first time he had been allowed to see his loved ones since being moved to a prison hospital in March 2005.

"He was surprised and very happy to see us. Because he did not know about a looming execution, he was hopeful and did not leave any final words or will with our family," said his daughter Ran Chen.

Wo, who holds several patents for biomedical discoveries, was denied access to a lawyer for 10 months after his detention and sentenced to death after a closed trial in May 2007.

"We, the family, have not been granted the most fundamental and universal right of information about what was happening with our father. The execution was carried out in secrecy while we hoped. Not only was my father put to death, but also our hope in the Chinese justice system," said Wo's daughters.

China is one of three countries continuing the policy of killing their own people, less than a week after a record number of countries in the UN supported ending capital punishment.

In Iran, ten people were hanged on Wednesday 26 November in a mass execution that took place in Tehran’s Evin Prison. The executions were reported to have been for murder, robbery, and kidnapping and brought the total number of executions recorded by Amnesty International in 2008 to at least 296.

One of those hanged was Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh, whose conviction to qesas, or retribution – judicial execution for the crime of murder – for the murder of her temporary husband had been upheld in 2006 following a review of the case by the Supreme Court. Courts had rejected her claim that she had acted to prevent her husband, who was a drug addict, from attempting to rape her then teenage daughter from a previous marriage. Apparently he had previously told her that he had lost the girl in a gambling match. Her lawyer was not notified 48 hours in advance of her execution, as is required under Iranian law.

Others are at imminent risk of execution. Farzad Kamangar is a Kurdish teacher whose death sentence on the vaguely worded charge of moharebeh, or enmity against God, often used to mean armed insurrection, was upheld in July 2008. His first trial, prior to which he was tortured in a series of locations, was grossly unfair. He was removed from his cell on 25 November, raising alarm that he would be executed. His lawyer has stated that his case is under review by the Supreme Court and that it is not legally possible to execute him in the absence of any warning. However, as in the case of Fatemeh Haghighat-Pajouh, human rights activists remain concerned that he may be quickly executed at any time.

At the same time, reports emerged that the Supreme Court had confirmed, in August 2008, a verdict of death by stoning, passed on Afsaneh R by a lower court in Shiraz, southern Iran. Reports suggest that the verdict was reached relying on ‘the knowledge’ of the judge, a provision in Iranian law that enables a judge to determine sentences in a subjective manner. Reports about the verdict cast doubt on the integrity of a statement by a judicial official, on the same day in August 2008, that execution by stoning had been suspended. The Head of Iran’s judiciary had announced a moratorium in 2002, although a stoning took place in 2007. It remains to be seen whether, as the case of Afsaneh R will show, the announcement in August was a hollow promise.

In Jamaica, the vote on retaining the death penalty emerged in light of discussions around the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms Bill. The new Charter seeks to replace Chapter III of the Jamaican Constitution dedicated to the protection of fundamental rights and freedom of persons.

The purpose of the vote was to decide whether provisions allowing for the death penalty as an exception to the right to life should be retained or deleted from the Charter. Following the vote at the House of Representatives, the Senate will also shortly debate and vote the motion.

The last execution in Jamaica was carried out on 18 February 1988. There were more than 190 prisoners under sentence of death at the end of 1988. Currently there are nine prisoners on death row.

"Although there appears little chance of Jamaica carrying out an execution in the near future, AI fears this vote signals the authorities' intention to resume hanging as soon as condemned prisoners pending legal appeals allow them to," said Amnesty International's Piers Bannister.

"As the world increasingly turns its back on capital punishment, Amnesty International urges Iran, China and Jamaica to re-examine their policies of judicial killings. At the UN General Assembly, the international community has spoken with a clear voice that executions are unacceptable. Nations which retain capital punishment must heed this vital message."

A large majority of states from all regions adopted a second resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in the UN General Assembly (Third Committee) on 20 November. 105 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution, 48 voted against and 31 abstained. A range of amendments proposed by a small minority of pro-death penalty countries were overwhelmingly defeated.

The draft resolution adopted on Thursday by the Third Committee of the General Assembly has still to be adopted by the General Assembly sitting in plenary in December.

UN reinforces call to end executions

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:16:39 +0000

A record number of countries have given their support to the campaign to end capital punishment.

On Thursday, a large majority of states from all regions adopted a second United Nations resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Amnesty International has welcomed the breakthrough for the resolution, which was adopted in the UN General Assembly (Third Committee). The number of co-sponsors has risen to 89, two more than last year.

The increased support for this resolution is yet further evidence of the worldwide trend towards the abolition of the death penalty.

105 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution, 48 voted against and 31 abstained. A range of amendments proposed by a small minority of pro-death penalty countries were overwhelmingly defeated.
“We urge all states that still carry out executions to take immediate steps to implement the resolution and establish a moratorium on executions," says Amnesty International's Yvonne Terlingen,

137 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice, as of November 2008. During 2007, at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries. At least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries.

The decrease in countries carrying out executions is dramatic. In 1989, executions were carried out in 100 states. In 2007, Amnesty International recorded executions in 24 countries.

The draft resolution adopted on Thursday by the Third Committee of the General Assembly has still to be adopted by the General Assembly sitting in plenary in December.

Death Penalty gallery - No human way to kill

Majority support expected in UN vote on death penalty moratorium

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:25:08 +0000

A large majority of states from all regions are expected to back a second resolution by the UN General Assembly (Third Committee) on Thursday, calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

The draft resolution to be voted on reaffirms resolution 62/149 of 18 December 2007, "Moratorium on the use of the death penalty". It welcomes the decisions taken by an increasing number of States to apply a moratorium on executions and the global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty.

It also welcomes the report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of
resolution 62/149; and requests the Secretary-General to provide a report on progress made in the implementation of both resolutions to the UN General Assembly in 2010 (65th session).

The General Assembly is expected to endorse the decision in a plenary session in December.

One-hundred-and-thirty-seven countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. During 2007, at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries. At least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries.

Death Penalty gallery - No human way to kill

Thousands join human art petition

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:41:36 +0000

A global day of action on Saturday 12 July used human aerial art to call on the Chinese authorities to ensure a positive human rights legacy for the Beijing Olympics.

Thousands of Amnesty International supporters from around the world teamed up with Circle Up Now, to create large images on the ground which are only fully visible from above.

From Delhi to Bamako and Asunción, thousands of people in over twenty locations joined together to form words such as "Freedom", "Dignity" and "Justice" representing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – which turns 60 on 10 December 2008.

Created on the eve of the anniversary of Beijing being granted the 2008 Olympics, this powerful "visual petition" was an appeal to the Chinese authorities to honour the commitment they made in 2001 to improve human rights.

"We are circling up in solidarity with human rights activists in China who have been silenced and cleared out of sight as the Games draw closer. We urge thousands of people to join together across the world to remind the Chinese authorities of their promises," said Circle Up Now.

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Olympic values aspire to a world where the dignity and fundamental rights of all individuals are respected without discrimination," said Amnesty International. "Seven years ago, the Chinese authorities promised the Olympics would bring improvement for people’s human rights but instead repression of activists and journalists has continued because of the Olympics."

Poverty Day to address human rights and dignity

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:47:46 +0000

“Change cannot be realised if people cannot be given time to express themselves and talk of the problems they are facing”
Michael Nyangi, Kibera, Nairobi

This year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is a call to everyone, from policy makers to the public, to recognise the rights and dignity of people living in poverty.

Amnesty International, other NGOs, civil society organizations, people living in poverty and supporters around the world will mobilize to raise their voices and demand action from governments.

Poverty Day is held on 17 October every year. Its aim is to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty in all countries and the importance of the right to participation.

People living in poverty are far too frequently excluded from decisions about how to improve their lives. Amnesty International said that the vicious cycle of poverty and human rights abuse could only be broken if people living in poverty were able to speak out and be heard. The organization is calling on all states to recognise the right to participation.

Widney Brown, Amnesty International's Director of International Law and Policy, said: "A key focus of this year's International Day is ensuring that people living in poverty are no longer denied the power to control their lives.

"All too often, living in poverty excludes people from making decisions about the things that affect them. Other people decide on their behalf, ignoring their needs, beliefs and opinions.

"Not only does this result in ill-informed decisions, but it also robs people of their right to participate, and to learn from the process, in order to be change makers and retain control over their own lives” she said.

Events planned for the day include street exhibitions, film premieres, public testimonies and concerts.

At the United Nations Head Quarters in New York, Widney Brown will take part in a major discussion on poverty, which is set to be webcast on www.un.org.

The event brings together representatives of the UN, World Bank and leading NGOs working on poverty and human rights. A number of local activists from grassroots civil society organisations will also be attending, including Michael Nyangi.

Michael lives in Kibera, one of the biggest slum areas, which is home to 1.5 million people and runs the Lomoro Microfinance organization. A qualified accountant, he created Lomoro five years ago when he was 23. It now has 150 members and helps people to start small, income-generating projects.

Michael is attending the event with the intention of sharing the perspective and thoughts of Kibera’s residents.

Other Amnesty International supporters will also take part in the Stand Up Against Poverty gatherings organized by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty.

The Stand Up event encourages millions of people to simultaneously stand up at the same time in protest against poverty and inequality. This year, over one per cent of the population is expected to take part.

Angola bad choice to host World Habitat Day

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:48:01 +0000

The choice of the Angolan capital Luanda to lead the global observance of this year's World Habitat Day provoked controversy among housing and human rights organizations.

In a joint letter to the Executive Director of The United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-HABITAT, who organized the event, Amnesty International, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, the Habitat International Coalition and Human Rights Watch have all voiced their concerns about the choice of venue.

The Angolan government has carried out repeated mass forced evictions of its people to facilitate urban development projects and the construction of luxury housing, leaving tens of thousands living in poverty.

Other human rights violations committed in the course of these forced evictions include arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and ill-treatment and harassment of human rights defenders.

World Habitat Day is organized by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness of the human right to adequate housing for all and to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. This year, the focus is on human rights in cities - click here to read case studies.

Known popularly as World Housing and Land Rights Day, it has been held every year on the first Monday of October since 1986. Last year, the main celebrations were held in The Hague. In previous years, they have been hosted by Naples, Jakarta, Nairobi and Dubai.

The Global Observance in Angola will take place at the Talatona International Conference Centre, attended by local and international participants from all sectors including governments, municipalities, parliamentarians and the private sector. Amnesty International has expressed concern however, at reports indicating that civil society has been excluded from the UN Habitat ceremony. Events will also be held all over the world.

The theme of the day this year is Harmonious Cities – "where everyone and every culture is at home." The UN chose the theme to "raise awareness about the problems of rapid urbanization, its impact on the environment, the growth of slums, and the urbanisation of poverty as more and more people teem into towns and cities looking for a better life.

"In an age where for the first time half of humanity is now living in towns and cities, the quest for adequate shelter for all along with basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, decent health care, safe streets, etc., is more urgent than ever, especially in developing countries," according to a statement on the UN-HABITAT website.

"There should also be no illusion that cities have the greatest impact on the environment and climate change. And where they are poorly managed, with weak governance structures, it is their citizens and their surrounds that suffer most."

Luanda was chosen to lead this year's celebrations because it was hoped that this would "show the world how the country, after years of conflict, is progressing in the establishment of harmonious cities through improvements in urban infrastructure and services, and a new urban development strategy."

Amnesty International and the other organizations who sent the letter "recognize the efforts of some members of Angola's government to promote more open participation and decentralized governance, as well as steps to promote the recognition of the right to adequate housing through the enactment of land and housing laws and a housing project to provide social housing for youths in the country. However, such good practices do not seem to have taken hold, nor do they seem to enjoy sufficient support among Angola’s policy makers."

The letter continues "unless and until the government of Angola takes these requisite steps to address the widely reported violations of the right to adequate housing and other human rights in the context of widespread forced evictions, it is inappropriate to raise Angola as an example and focus of World Habitat Day/World Housing and Land Rights Day. By so doing, both the government of Angola and UN-Habitat add insult to the injury committed against Angola’s thousands affected by forced evictions."

The organizations have called on UN-Habitat to use the occasion of World Habitat Day in Luanda to urge the government of Angola to comply with its obligations under international law, take prompt, effective steps to stop and prevent forced evictions.

Arms Trade Treaty could fail without human rights

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:25:15 +0000

Every year,more than 300,000 people are killed with conventional weapons. Millions more are injured, abused, forcibly displaced and bereaved as a result of armed violence. Many of the weapons used to commit these violations are sourced on the poorly regulated international arms market.

Amnesty International's new report, Blood at the Crossroads: Making the case for a global Arms Trade Treaty, uses nine detailed case studies of the catastrophic human rights consequences of unrestrained arms trading.

Launched as UN member states prepare to meet in October to consider further steps to move towards negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty, the report says that world leaders should adopt a "Golden Rule" to help protect human rights when arms are transferred between countries.

The "Golden Rule" states simply: that governments must prevent arms transfers where there is a substantial risk that they are likely to be used for serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

From the ongoing conflict in Darfur, military crackdowns in Myanmar and Guinea to the proliferation of sectarian violence in Iraq, the report shows how and why the current variations and loopholes in national arms legislation allow massive violations of human rights to occur. It also demonstrates that without an effective human rights provision, a global Arms Trade Treaty could fail to protect those most vulnerable.

The report is launched during a global week of action by activists and supporters of the Control Arms Campaign. Campaigners are reminding governments that "The World is Watching", a theme during the week of events and activities to ild up pressure for an agreement on an effective Arms Trade Treaty as quickly as possible.

Worldwide support for a UN process to develop a global Arms Trade Treaty was reflected when 153 states voted in favour (1 against (US), and 24 abstained) during the General Assembly in December 2006. Then during 2007 almost 100 states submitted their views to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, proposing human rights protection as one of the top considerations.

In the run up to October's UN discussions at the General Assembly First Committee meeting on Disarmament and Security, a few states - including China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Russia and the US – have been attempting to block, delay and water down proposals. These attempts could make the treaty fail in its objectives and allow the continued unchecked trade in arms.

"Despite the massive green light from most of the world community, a small minority of sceptics want to keep the status quo shambles so they can turn a blind eye to blatantly irresponsible arms transfers, rendering most national arms controls and UN arms embargoes weak and ineffective," said Brian Wood, Amnesty International’s arms control manager.

China, Russia, the US and many other nations, are highlighted in the report as trading arms to countries with well documented human rights violations.

China and Russia remain the largest suppliers of conventional arms to Sudan that are used for serious ongoing human rights violations by the Sudanese armed forces in Darfur. Russia supplied military helicopters and bomber aircraft, while China sold Sudan most of its arms and ammunition.

In Iraq, the US Department of Defense has funded most of the supply of over one million rifles, pistols and infantry weapons for 531,000 Iraqi security force personnel in a poorly managed and unaccountable process since 2003. This supply has compounded the massive proliferation of arms and gross human rights abuses that began under the former Saddam government.

The new supplies have sometimes involved dubious players in international supply chains and a lack of accountability by Iraq, US and UK governments, leading to diversions of supplies to armed groups and illicit markets.

In Myanmar, despite the persistent pattern of well documented human rights violations committed by Myanmar government forces, China, Serbia, Russia and the Ukraine have between them supplied armoured personal carriers, trucks, weapons and munitions. India has recently offered to supply more arms.

The report shows graphically how violations of the UN arms embargo continue on Cote d'Ivoire, Somalia and Darfur in Sudan because of weak national laws and lack of commitment and capacity by some governments. The failure of over 80 percent of states to establish laws to control arms brokering and arms transportation makes this problem worse.

A UN Group of Governmental Experts examined the Arms Trade Treaty from February to August 2008 and its report will be considered at the UN First Committee of the General Assembly in October.

Amnesty International and its partners are now calling for states during their discussions at General Assembly to agree in December to start a negotiating process during 2009 so that the international community can benefit from a legally-binding and universal Arms Trade Treaty by the end of 2010.

"Discussions on an Arms Trade Treaty have reached a crossroads," says Helen Hughes, one of the researchers on the report. "Governments can either carry on ignoring the horrific consequences of irresponsible international arms transfers or they can meet their obligations in an Arms Trade Treaty with a 'Golden Rule' on human rights that will actually help save people's lives and protect their livelihoods."

Read more:
Play the Control Arms game
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary
The Control Arms website

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