G8 arms exports fuelling poverty and human rights abuses (new report)

international | anti-capitalism | news report Wednesday June 22, 2005 19:20 by sue denham

The G8: global arms exporters

New report from the Control Arms Campaign: Amnesty International, Oxfam, IANSA

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGPOL300072005

G8 member states are undermining their commitments to poverty reduction, stability and human rights with irresponsible arms exports to some of the world's poorest and most conflict-ridden countries, according to new research issued today. G8 weapons have been exported to countries including Sudan, Myanmar (Burma), the Republic of Congo, Colombia and the Philippines.

On the eve of a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in London (23-24 June), a new report reveals how the G8 countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the USA -- are still supplying military equipment, weapons and munitions to destinations where they contribute to gross violations of human rights.