-A historic treaty to regulate the global arms trade is being debated right now in New York, but the US wants to water down human rights protections in the name of "national security". Don't let them get away with it.
Obama's delegates at the United Nations in New York are leading a dangerous push to weaken the Arms Trade Treaty. Don't let them get away with it!
Dear Phearum,
We're now three weeks into negotiations at the United Nations in New York, where world leaders are hammering out the first ever Arms Trade Treaty. If it's strong enough, it could help keep weapons out of the wrong hands by properly regulating the trade of weapons between countries.
But the US, the world’s largest weapons supplier, is leading a dangerous push to weaken the agreement. Obama’s delegates are demanding a vague, open-ended 'escape clause' that would trump human rights concerns -- essentially giving weapons suppliers a free pass to continue with business as usual.
Don't let the US ruin this historic opportunity: send a message right now to President Obama's UN delegation and show them the whole world is watching, and we expect better.
The devastating consequences of the poorly regulated arms trade can be seen right across the world. Syria is officially in a state of civil war [1], yet Russia has poured weapons into the country throughout the conflict. Elsewhere, China is arming war-torn Sudan, and the US continues to ship weapons to Egypt. If the US succeeds with its worrying escape clause, any country that wants to keep selling weapons to human rights abusers will have a ready-made, legal excuse.
What’s more, the powerful US-based National Rifle Association has taken aim at Amnesty in a massive scare campaign to scrap the treaty all together. Our campaigners in New York have told me how incredibly frustrating it is to watch NRA representatives actually fight against a treaty that could protect millions of people from warlords and despots - but it's all the more reason we can’t sit back quietly.
Click here to join the millions-strong Amnesty movement in pressuring the US to support proper human rights protections in the Arms Trade Treaty.
This week we're also unveiling a series of high-profile media actions, working with Amnesty offices around the world, while my colleagues will deliver these messages to world leaders at the United Nations in New York. Together we can get build the pressure, attract the media spotlight and push the US to do the right thing.
Thank you. I look forward to reporting on more soon.
Ming Yu
Arms Trade Treaty campaigner
Amnesty International Australia
PS. Without US support for a strong treaty, talks could collapse altogether, leaving the global trade in bananas and bottled water more regulated than the sale of bombs and bullets! Not on our watch -- please speak out today.
[1] Syria denies attack on civilians, in crisis seen as civil war, NY times, 17 July 2012
Obama's delegates at the United Nations in New York are leading a dangerous push to weaken the Arms Trade Treaty. Don't let them get away with it!
Dear Phearum,
We're now three weeks into negotiations at the United Nations in New York, where world leaders are hammering out the first ever Arms Trade Treaty. If it's strong enough, it could help keep weapons out of the wrong hands by properly regulating the trade of weapons between countries.
But the US, the world’s largest weapons supplier, is leading a dangerous push to weaken the agreement. Obama’s delegates are demanding a vague, open-ended 'escape clause' that would trump human rights concerns -- essentially giving weapons suppliers a free pass to continue with business as usual.
Don't let the US ruin this historic opportunity: send a message right now to President Obama's UN delegation and show them the whole world is watching, and we expect better.
The devastating consequences of the poorly regulated arms trade can be seen right across the world. Syria is officially in a state of civil war [1], yet Russia has poured weapons into the country throughout the conflict. Elsewhere, China is arming war-torn Sudan, and the US continues to ship weapons to Egypt. If the US succeeds with its worrying escape clause, any country that wants to keep selling weapons to human rights abusers will have a ready-made, legal excuse.
What’s more, the powerful US-based National Rifle Association has taken aim at Amnesty in a massive scare campaign to scrap the treaty all together. Our campaigners in New York have told me how incredibly frustrating it is to watch NRA representatives actually fight against a treaty that could protect millions of people from warlords and despots - but it's all the more reason we can’t sit back quietly.
Click here to join the millions-strong Amnesty movement in pressuring the US to support proper human rights protections in the Arms Trade Treaty.
This week we're also unveiling a series of high-profile media actions, working with Amnesty offices around the world, while my colleagues will deliver these messages to world leaders at the United Nations in New York. Together we can get build the pressure, attract the media spotlight and push the US to do the right thing.
Thank you. I look forward to reporting on more soon.
Ming Yu
Arms Trade Treaty campaigner
Amnesty International Australia
PS. Without US support for a strong treaty, talks could collapse altogether, leaving the global trade in bananas and bottled water more regulated than the sale of bombs and bullets! Not on our watch -- please speak out today.
[1] Syria denies attack on civilians, in crisis seen as civil war, NY times, 17 July 2012
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