President Lula first head of state to support an arms trade treaty
Brazil's President Lula has stated his readiness to play a key role in pushing for an international treaty to control arms.
President Lula agreed to work with Amnesty International on this and other initiatives in a meeting held with the organization's Secretary General Irene Khan.
Ms Khan presented to the Brazilian President, the Control Arms Campaign which was launched on 9 October by Amnesty International, Oxfam and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). The campaign aims to reduce arms proliferation and misuse and to convince governments to introduce a binding arms trade treaty.
"Brazil's support for an international Arms Trade treaty reflects President Lula's concern about arresting human rights abuses flowing from gun violence in Brazil, as well as his strong interest in Africa where the use of small arms has been disastrous," said Ms Khan.
She welcomed President Lula's unequivocal response to: "...undertake all efforts to build a network and create a positive balance in favour of arms control."
President Lula pledged his government's support to Amnesty International: "We will be your partner for this and other initiatives."
© Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org
Please also see:
Brazil: Courage and political will to deliver human rights;
http://news.amnesty.org/mavp/news.nsf/vwDocID/9FA7E3B4A7550E6380256DDE00419C45?opendocument
and
In case you missed it: US Remains Leader in Global Arms Sales: The United States was the leader in total worldwide sales in 2002, with about $13.3 billion, or 45.5 percent of global conventional weapons deals, a rise from $12.1 billion in 2001. Of that, $8.6 billion was to developing nations, or about 48.6 percent of conventional arms deals concluded with developing nations last year, according to the report.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4826.htm
Brazil's President Lula has stated his readiness to play a key role in pushing for an international treaty to control arms.
President Lula agreed to work with Amnesty International on this and other initiatives in a meeting held with the organization's Secretary General Irene Khan.
Ms Khan presented to the Brazilian President, the Control Arms Campaign which was launched on 9 October by Amnesty International, Oxfam and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). The campaign aims to reduce arms proliferation and misuse and to convince governments to introduce a binding arms trade treaty.
"Brazil's support for an international Arms Trade treaty reflects President Lula's concern about arresting human rights abuses flowing from gun violence in Brazil, as well as his strong interest in Africa where the use of small arms has been disastrous," said Ms Khan.
She welcomed President Lula's unequivocal response to: "...undertake all efforts to build a network and create a positive balance in favour of arms control."
President Lula pledged his government's support to Amnesty International: "We will be your partner for this and other initiatives."
© Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org
Please also see:
Brazil: Courage and political will to deliver human rights;
http://news.amnesty.org/mavp/news.nsf/vwDocID/9FA7E3B4A7550E6380256DDE00419C45?opendocument
and
In case you missed it: US Remains Leader in Global Arms Sales: The United States was the leader in total worldwide sales in 2002, with about $13.3 billion, or 45.5 percent of global conventional weapons deals, a rise from $12.1 billion in 2001. Of that, $8.6 billion was to developing nations, or about 48.6 percent of conventional arms deals concluded with developing nations last year, according to the report.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4826.htm