Human rights activists affiliated to Amnesty International Nepal urged US Government to play a leading role in promoting human rights protection rules in the historic negotiations of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) taking place at the UN until 27 July 2012. In Four separate programs organized by AI Nepal on 22 July, 2012 more than 2700 signatures were collected. Program held three places in Kathmandu and one in Hetauda. The signatures were collected on the petition addressed to the US President Barack Obama. Petitions with signatures will be handed over soon to the US President Obama through the Embassy of USA in Kathmandu.
Petitions stated ‘we are concerned that the current US Position will weaken the Treaty by allowing national security and regional stability to trump human rights concerns. We call on you to support the highest possible human rights standards in the ATT by ensuring it includes a “Golden Rule” on human rights whereby an international arms transfer shall not be permitted where there is an International Human Rights Law (IHRL) or International Human Rights Law (IHL)’ were signed by the people from different walk of lives.
War crimes, unlawful killings, torture and other serious human rights abuses have been committed around the world using a wide range of weapons, munitions and military and security equipment. These are often provided to perpetrators in almost unlimited supply, encouraging and prolonging unlawful violence. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, injured, raped and forced to flee from their homes as a result.
Global society has no treaty to ensure the strict control of the international trade in conventional arms, while governments license irresponsible arms flows to fuel human atrocities and abuse. Amnesty International urging states to stop allowing irresponsible transfers of arms and be made accountable to the international community. That is why since the 1990s Amnesty International has been campaigning for a global treaty to set rules for the strict regulation of the international arms trade. Now an international Arms Trade Treaty is finally within reach. Leading up to July 2012, all governments will negotiate the text of the treaty at the United Nations. Many governments and most US allies support this position. However, some influential states including China, Russia and US have been promoting weaker rules. The US China, Syria, and Egypt have voiced their opposition for ammunition to be included in the treaty.
Amnesty International believes it is crucial that the treaty includes:
- Strong rules that protect human rights, preventing arms from being sent to those who would most likely use them to seriously violate these rights;
- A control list that includes all types of weapons, munitions and other arms;
- Clear rules to apply and monitor the Treaty with reporting to ensure they are enforced.