Pick of the week – Arms Trade

The escalating violence in Libya has thrown a spotlight on the international arms trade and the impact weapons sold have on civilian populations. For this pick of the week, as well as articles from the news, there is also archive material to provide a background to the problem.

1. Libya: throwing a spotlight on European arms sales
For an explanation of the relationship between Libya and Europe read this Channel 16 blog.

2. Arms Availability: Questions and Answers
These are some frequently asked questions about the humanitarian consequences of unregulated arms.

3. Arms Trade Treaty: The Story so far
Watch this video on why the campaign for the Arms Trade Treaty started, and what it has achieved so far.

4. Small arms big cause of death in conflict
A look at the problem of small arms being “recycled from conflict to conflict”

5. Middle East & Africa: propping up the arms trade for years now
A critical look at the sale of arms to conflict zones.

6. Cluster bombs
This article considers the long term effect of arms being left in a country after a conflict has ended.

7. Postcard from…Libya
Since the embargo on arms sales to Libya has ended – who has been selling the country arms?

8. Arms sales to Arab countries may have been illegal
Could arms sales by South Africa been illegal?

9. Take Action
Be a part of the Control Arms campaign to take action for a bulletproof arms trade treaty.