Amnesty accepts Aviva has no investments in cluster-bomb manufactuers

Amnesty International has said it "fully accepts and welcomes" a statement from Aviva that it (Aviva) has no investments in companies that manufacture cluster munitions.

Earlier today, Amnesty issued a press release incorrectly stating that insurance provider Aviva had investments in two US companies, Lockheed Martin and Textron, that manufacture cluster munitions.

"This claim was based on a report issued earlier this year by Pax Christi (Netherlands) and Netwerk Vlaanderen (Belgium) tracking worldwide investment in the trade in cluster munitions," Amnesty have said.

"Since the research was carried out Aviva has divested itself of those investments. It has also placed those companies, along with a number of others, on a ‘stop list’ to prevent any investment in companies manufacturing cluster munitions.

"Amnesty International regrets that the press release issued this morning was based on out-of-date information and fully accepts and welcomes Aviva’s position that the company has no investments in companies that manufacture cluster munitions."

An international treaty negotiated in Dublin in 2008 banned the devices, but it is not illegal for private companies to invest in the munitions.