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Arms Brokering
More and more, it appears that arms that are
entering regions of conflict and human-rights crisis zones
are being transferred there by unscrupulous arms brokers who
are taking advantage of a loophole that exists in most countries'
export legislation. For example, while arms sales from the
UK are subject to government scrutiny, transfers of weapons
that never touch British soil, but are brokered by British
citizens or residents, are not regulated by British law.
Arms brokering and shipping agents are companies
or individuals who engage in any of the following activities:
-
buying and selling of arms;
-
mediation in, or facilitation of, arms transfers;
-
promotion or marketing of arms; and/or
-
transportation of arms.
In response to this growing problem, BASIC has
been focusing considerable effort on getting tighter regulations
of arms brokering and shipping agents put in to place in the
United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and
internationally.
United Kingdom
BASIC's efforts in the UK have centered on the
upcoming primary legislation on Strategic Export Controls.
When the UK's Department of Trade and Industry released its
White Paper
on Strategic Export Controls in July 1998, BASIC responded
with a submission emphasizing the need for arms brokers to
be licensed and kept on a national register, and has been
in dialogue with Ministers about the problems surrounding
arms brokers.
Response
to the Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry White Paper
on Strategic Export Controls
European Union
In February 1999, BASIC, in conjunction with
the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT) and
Saferworld, published "Controlling the Gun-Runners." This
publication has become a vital tool for NGOs all over Europe
in their work towards brokering controls in their constituent
countries. The German government has initiated work on EU-wide
controls, and it is hoped that the EU, in its Annual Review
of the EU Code of Conduct, will consider restructuring the
Code to apply also to arms brokering and shipping agents.
US and EU to Tackle Small Arms Trade
Together
Press Release, 17 December 1999.
Controlling the Gun-Runners: Proposals
for EU action to regulate arms brokering and shipping agents
February 1999
This publication laid the groundwork for a more
comprehensive study of brokers that use the EU as a staging
point for shipping weapons around the world. The Arms
Fixers: Controlling the Brokers and Shipping Agents exposes
the role of arms brokers and shipping agents in fuelling conflicts
and human rights abuses around the world. It also highlights
weak legislation and makes proposals for regulating brokering
activities, particularly in the EU.
The Arms Fixers: Controlling the Brokers
and Shipping Agents (preface and introduction), by Brian
Wood and Johan Peleman.
International
In May 1999, Brian Wood, Senior Fellow at BASIC,
was invited with several other experts to meet with the United
Nations Department of Disarmament Affairs to discuss the feasibility
of undertaking a study on restricting the manufacture and
trade of small arms to manufacturers and dealers authorised
by States. The report produced as a result of these discussions,
importantly, recommends that the study should include arms
brokers and transport agents. The UN Secretary General has
decided to endorse the report and will include it in an official
report to the General Assembly in August. It is likely to
be endorsed by the General Assembly, and research for the
study should begin next year.
UN Report on the feasibility
of restricting the manufacture and trade of small arms to
manufacturers and dealers authorized by States (A/54/160),
6 July 1999 (PDF format only)
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