A recent relaxing of restrictions on arms exports to Israel raises concerns that the new government may be taking a less cautious approach to arms exports to countries with bad human rights records. Such actions risk undermining the UK’s reputation as a champion of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) during the run-up to the ATT's First Conference of State Parties in August.
Following a year-long review, the Government announced on 14 July that it would remove the additional measures being applied to arms licences to Israel. The measures, which UNA-UK argued did not go far enough, were imposed following last summer’s hostilities where arms containing British components may have been used in Gaza by Israeli forces.
The Israel decision is emblematic of a much wider issue - the UK's widespread and controversial practice of granting licences to states classified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as 'Countries of Human Rights Concern'. Earlier this year, licences to these countries - which include conflict-ridden countries in the Middle East - were valued at almost £12bn.
This latest announcement comes early on in the new parliament, before parliamentary scrutiny procedures are in full operation. In this regard, it is concerning to note the possibility that the Committees on Arms Exports Controls (CAEC), which has in the past been an source of influential parliamentary scrutiny, may not be reconvened for some time, if at all.
Designed to reduce the devastating effect of armed violence, the Arms Trade Treaty makes it illegal for a state to authorise arms transfers where there is a significant risk that the arms will be used to commit human rights abuses or crimes against humanity. Having entered into force in December 2014, the Treaty's potential will only be fulfilled if a precedent for robust implementation emerges early on. The UK and other major exporters have an important role to play here.
UNA-UK has persistently called on the Government to tighten its arms export control systems in line with the letter and spirit of the ATT. If the UK is to set a positive example on arms control, it is crucial that it addresses the conflict between business interests and human rights concerns in licensing decisions and that it ensures there is no reduction in levels of parliamentary scrutiny.
Click here to read more about UNA-UK’s position on arms exports control
