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Press Release
16 October 2001
UK WORKING GROUP ON ARMS
Amnesty International, BASIC, Christian Aid,
International Alert, Oxfam, Saferworld
Arms Bill Must Not Stall
Arms campaigners in the UK today welcomed the long-awaited
publication of a draft Export Control Bill but challenged
the Government to ensure the Bill is in the next Queen's Speech.
Five years after the Scott Report, which called for an urgent
and comprehensive overhaul of strategic export controls, UK
arms exports continue to be governed by legislation introduced
under emergency powers in 1939. The draft Bill aims to update
and strengthen UK export controls by putting the guidelines
and criteria currently used to judge export licence applications
on a statutory footing.
"The draft Bill is a welcome starting point but there is
still work to do. We look forward to an effective consultation
process to ensure the legislation fully prevents UK involvement
in arms transfers to regions of conflict or human rights crisis
zones." Said Liz Clegg, Arms Programme Manager at Saferworld,
an independent foreign affairs think tank.
Members of the UK Working Group on Arms, which has repeatedly
called for new legislation to regulate arms transfers, will
participate fully in the consultation process and put pressure
on the Government to drive the process forward.
"This is an important step forward in honouring the Governments
commitments on the control of arms. But this draft Bill must
be turned into legislation at the earliest opportunity. The
Government must act now to stop British arms contributing
to the annual toll of half a million civilians killed by small
arms. " said Justin Forsyth, Policy Director, Oxfam GB.
For more information, please contact:
Vanessa Haines, Saferworld - 020 7881 9290, mobile 07879 648
957
Helen Palmer, Oxfam - 01865 312375
Brendan Paddy, Amnesty International UK - 020 7814 6240
Christina Torsein, BASIC - 0207 407 2977
Damian Lilly, International Alert - 020 7793 8383
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