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.
