Green Party responds to rise in arms sales to human rights abusers

21 December 2018

The Green Party has called on the Prime Minister to immediately end arms sales where there are risks of human rights abuses after news one-third of UK arms sales go to states on human rights watchlist. [1]

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“It is a stain on our national conscience that Britain is arming human rights abusers. The Government cannot keep turning a blind eye to the fact British weapons are fuelling despicable wars and being used to target civilians in violation of the rules of war. It is rank hypocrisy that Britain championed the Arms Trade Treaty yet seems content to ignore the clear risk of selling weapons into conflict zones – violating that very treaty. It is time for the cosy relationship with despotic regimes like Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to end. I appeal to the Prime Minister to immediately stop arms sales where there are risks of human rights abuses.”

Notes:

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/21/one-third-of-uk-arms-sales-go-to-states-on-human-rights-watchlist-say-analysts

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