TDs back clampdown on arms trade

Almost 60 politicians have backed a worldwide campaign to ban the international trade of arms to rogue regimes or groups, it emerged today.

Amnesty International said just over a quarter of the country’s parliamentarians pledged their support for a worldwide Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

Launching the report 'Blood on the Crossroads' – which highlights the catastrophic effect of unrestrained arms trading on human rights in conflict situations – the organisation revealed 56 cross-party TDs, Senators and MEPs have signed a Parliamentary Declaration supporting a comprehensive Treaty.

Noeleen Hartigan, of Amnesty International Irish Section, called on the remaining politicians to add their voice to the campaign.

“The time for an arms trade treaty is now,” said Ms Hartigan, handing the report to politicians outside the Dáil.

“In the face of opposition from powerful states like the USA, China, India and Russia, Ireland must support the use of a human rights criterion as the basis for negotiations for an universal arms trade treaty.

“We want to thank these public representatives for their support but there are many more who have not yet put their names to this.

“We will increase our pressure when the Dáil comes back and we expect the politicians that have signed up to be strong advocates within their parties.”

Some 1,600 parliamentarians across the globe have signed the declaration, which will be handed over to the United Nations General Assembly next month when member states will consider the next step in agreeing a universal treaty.

The human rights organisation will also highlight nine detailed case studies in 'Blood at the Crossroads', which is the first detailed examination of the parameters and scope of a treaty.

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 variation and loopholes in national arms legislation allows massive violations of human rights to occur.

The report demonstrates that without an effective human rights provision, a global arms trade treaty could fail to protect those most vulnerable.

Amnesty said China, Russia and the USA were among the many nations which are trading arms to countries with well-documented human rights violations and are attempting to block and delay proposals.

Brian Wood, Amnesty International’s arms control manager, said the absence of a common binding standard on international trade in weapons has resulted in the widespread abuse of human rights in the form of rape, murder and violence.

“The Irish Government has to date been a strong advocate for a comprehensive arms trade treaty,” he added.