The global arms trade will soon reach record levels, yet as weapons production has become more globalised, national regulations are insufficient to prevent unlawful use. What needs to be done to ensure that the burgeoning trade in arms is properly contained? This report by Amnesty International, the International Network on Small Arms, and Oxfam International is part of the ‘Control Arms’ campaign. It examines how the proliferation of improperly controlled weapons has serious negative implications for conflict resolution, human rights and development. It argues that there is an urgent need for a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty that will create minimum global standards for arms transfers.
As with products in most other industries, very few pieces of military equipment are now manufactured in one country. However, unlike other industries, the proliferation and globalisation of the international arms trade could have catastrophic implications for global security, development and human rights.
- There is no effective global treaty dealing with the international arms trade. Poor regulation of weapons trading contributes to serious human rights violations by armed groups and fuels violent conflict across the world.
- In some developing countries, high military spending bears little relevance to real defence needs. This can aid repressive measures in such countries and divert funds away from development efforts.
- The number of arms exporting countries is growing rapidly. Many of these emerging exporters are no longer interested in importing finished weapons, but rather in incorporating technology from abroad into weapons to be assembled in their own countries.
- While many governments do enforce export restrictions on finished weapons, regulation on the export of weapons components is insufficient. The fact that many weapons components may also be employed for civilian purposes further complicates the issue.
- No country in the world, with the exception of the United States, subject overseas subsidiaries to the same arms export restrictions as domestic parent companies.
The effective regulation of a globalised arms trade requires a global arms treaty. This treaty is a necessary step in a wider process to reduce suffering from armed violence, which also requires institution-building and effective conflict resolution strategies. A successful treaty should cover the following aspects:
- All components intended for weapons systems and military and security equipment should be subject to export and re-export controls, along the entire supply chain. Governments should not supply components unless they are sure that the final product will not contribute to violations of international law.
- Every international arms production agreement licensed by companies should be considered carefully by the company’s home government. Such agreements should be legally binding, and only permitted if there is no risk that arms from overseas production will contribute to international law violations.
- Overseas subsidiaries producing weapons, in which a controlling interest is held by a parent company, should be subject to the arms export controls of the parent company’s government.
- The treaty should make reference to states’ existing responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law.
