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۱۳۹۱ تیر ۲۱, چهارشنبه

A Single Step to Disarm Unlawful Arm Traders / Amir Mohsen Mohamamadi


این مطلب نخستین بار در وبسایت یونیورسال تلورانس در این آدرس منتشر شده است.

As The Arms Trade Treaty Global Week has begun since Monday, June 11th, 2012, people around the globe are now united to participate in the event to stop the unlawful and irresponsible arms trade, mostly done by the “Big Six”, i.e. the USA, UK, Germany, France, Russia and China, the main manufacturers and suppliers of the weapons whose trade causes 1500 deaths in armed clashes everyday. While Middle East has been a market to these traders, mainly in the recent unrests in the region, the Middle East activists as well as the Iranian society have not shown much interest to join ATT.
Knowing the tragic consequences of the arms trades and the shocking statistics of decades of sufferings, death, injuries, torture, serious human rights violation, sexual violence and the inhumane phenomenon of child soldiers due to the irresponsibility and poorly regulated international arms trade which has had a devastating impact on the lives of millions, will draw the attention to stop the genocide occurring at this very moment while the world’s media are ignoring the issue.

The facts and figures are horrifying, though true. One person in every single minute is killed due to the violent acts enforced by weapons. Every year, 12 billion bullets are produced in the world by which 26 million people are displaced in armed clashes; at least 250,000 are killed due to armed conflict, while 300,000 others are killed by arms used outside conflict. That is enough people to fill more that 1594 airplanes!

Did you know there is more regulation on trade in bananas than there is in the trade of guns? European countries refuse to import toys that harm children. But they are happy to sell millions of weapons that kill 1000's of children! Will you help to put pressure on the key countries? Did you know at this very moment, at least 10 thousand child soldiers are being abused for the adult conflicts by 55 armed groups? Guess how much money the USA and UK make by supplying the Middle East and North Africa with their weapons. P5 members of UN Security Council, i.e. Russia, China, USA, France and UK, plus Germany own 74% of world’s arm exports.

If we take a closer look, selling arms to totalitarian States usually means arming them against their own citizens. Between 2008 and 2009 USA sold arms and munitions to Bahrain and Yemen. In 2011 these countries violently suppressed their populations. Today USA refuses to control the trade in arms and munitions. At least 20 states have sold and supplied small arms, ammunition, tear gas and other equipment to Egypt. These arms were used to suppress peaceful protesters. The USA has been the biggest supplier – annually providing $1.3 billion.

It is time a serious action was taken. Amnesty International has been campaigning since the 1990s for a global treaty to set rules for the strict regulation of the international arms trade. Eventually the world leaders will meet to start negotiating the treaty for a month on July 2nd. It is to be of a worrying concern that some of main arms manufacturers and suppliers are not willing to accept the treaty. Therefore, we need to take actions to ratify the strict treaty of arms trades prior to the world leaders meeting in July.

If you can read this note, it means you are still alive, whilst five people have been killed by five bullets in the past five minutes, just as you were reading this note. Thus, we are to send this message: “Say NO to Atrocity.” Preventing one bullet to be shot, you have prevented a chain of violence. . Human Rights must be dealt beyond borders. Stop the unlawful arms trade for the sake of millions of dollars revenue. Be the full stop to such a human disaster. Join the global campaign to monitor the arms trade.

And of the highest concern is the participation of the activists in the Middle East who have not highly welcomed The International ATT Campaign of Amnesty International, although these weapons will turn Iran to a new Syria. They must be the ones who take serious actions before it is too late.  

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