International Trade in Arms and Military Training
There is clear evidence that the international transfer of arms or the training of foreign security forces can provide repressive governments and abusive armed groups with the means to carry out or intensify gross human rights violations. By encouraging governments to act responsibly in this area, Amnesty International USA seeks to prevent or minimize gross violations or abuses of humanitarian and human rights law.
Quick Links: Cluster Bombs | U.S. approved arms to Iraq | Arms Trade Treaty | Surplus Stockpiles of Small Arms | U.S. Training of Foreign Security Forces.
Take Action
Ruthless arms brokers have been at the center of many of the most disturbing arms deals, including weapons transfers to abusive armed groups and countries under U.N. arms embargoes. Many of these merchants of death remain free and unhindered, and continue to traffic arms to human rights abusers. Urge your Member of Congress to press the Bush Administration to support a strong global agreement on arms brokering to better enforce U.S. law and halt this global threat to human rights. » More actions
Human Rights Goals
Restricting the Use and Export of Cluster Bombs
 Amnesty activists demonstrate against the misuse of cluster bombs. |
Amnesty International is calling on governments to restrict the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs because of their indiscriminate effects on civilians. During an attack, cluster bombs open in mid-air scattering dozens to hundreds of small sub-munitions randomly over a wide area, failing to distinguish between civilian and combatant. After an attack, large numbers of the sub-munitions often fail to explode as designed and remain on the ground, posing a threat to civilians—similar to landmines—for many years to come.
About Cluster Bombs
What is a cluster bomb? - Issue brief
10 things you should know about cluster bombs
Origami cluster bomb
Eye on U.S. Approved Arms Transfers to Iraq
In a May 2006 report, Amnesty International raised serious questions about U.S. government efforts to ensure weapons transfers to Iraq reach the intended user. For example, Amnesty International discovered that the U.S. company Taos Inc. subcontracted the company Aerocom, which had previously been listed as violating the UN arms embargo on Liberia, to transport thousands of arms from Bosnia to Iraq between July 2004 and July 2005. In addition, U.S. military air traffic controllers in Iraq said no landing slots were requested by Aerocom to touch down in Iraq. Based on a letter Amnesty International USA sent to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2006, the DoD is now investigating the case.
For more information, read chapter eight of Amnesty International’s report entitled Dead on Time - arms transportation, brokering and the threat to human rights.
Building Support for an Arms Trade Treaty
 Control Arms representatives give the Million Faces Petition to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. |
In October 2003, Amnesty joined forces with Oxfam and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) to create the Control Arms Campaign. As a part of this effort, the campaign is calling for an international, legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty to ease the suffering caused by irresponsible conventional weapons transfers. Since late 2003, the campaign has gathered the support of over one million people worldwide for an Arms Trade Treaty. In December 2006, 153 governments voted at the United Nations to start work on developing an international Arms Trade Treaty.
For more information, go to these resources:
» Read a letter 15 U.S. Senators sent to Secretary Rice about the Arms Trade Treaty
» Visit the Control Arms Campaign website
» Find information on global guidelines on the international transfer of small arms and light weapons
Securing or Destroying Surplus Stockpiles of Small Arms
 A container load of destroyed weapons from rebels and anti-government groups, Sierra Leone. |
Around the world, tens of millions of small arms and light weapons (SALW) such as assault rifles and shoulder-fired missiles and many more stocks of ammunition are still kept in poorly managed circumstances. Too often, these poorly secured stocks of arms are a source of weapons for armed groups, organized crime, and violent conflicts with devastating consequences for civilians. The U.S. Congress must fully fund the U.S. Department of State’s program to help foreign governments safely secure or destroy at risk stockpiles of small arms and light weapons. » Read more - Issue brief.
Human Rights and U.S. Training of Foreign Security Forces
According to an Amnesty International USA report in 2002, the United States government trains approximately 100,000 foreign police and soldiers from more than 150 countries each year in an estimated 275 military schools and installations offering over 4,100 courses. Many of these foreign security force personnel come from countries with poor human rights records. Amnesty International is urging the U.S. military to mainstream human rights and humanitarian law into all foreign security force training. Among other human rights issues, such instruction should include training on how to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against women and girls and how to prevent and appropriately address violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and groups.
» Learn more about the connection between military training and human rights abuses
» NGO Coalition Letter Regarding the U.S. Defense Department's Train and Equip Program
