What You Can Do

Promote human rights not arms sales

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are intensifying their crackdown on dissent, yet our government is still trying to sell them more weapons. In September, the UK government is helping to organise one of the world's largest arms fairs, DSEi, and it plans to invite both countries.

The promotion of arms sales send the wrong message: one that condones instead of condemns human rights abuses, that legitimises authoritarian regimes and demoralises those struggling for democracy.

No weapons to Syria

Foreign Minister William Hague is chipping away at the EU arms embargo. He has announced the UK will send armoured vehicles and body armour and refuses to rule out further steps.

CAAT strongly opposes any moves to provide arms to any side in the conflict. Instead the UK should place pressure on countries giving military support to either side to end such support, and focus on non-military solutions to the conflict.

A better arms sales policy for Labour?

Two Labour shadow ministers recently wrote about the UK's need for "a truly progressive arms policy in the wake of the Arab Spring." We agree – but such a policy must tackle the government's role in promoting arms sales. Take action!

What's on your doorstep?

During the Arab Spring, the weapons and components built on our doorsteps fuelled repression. UK teargas manufactured by Chemring was used in Cairo; armoured vehicles made in Tyneside were deployed in Bahrain; Primetake, a company based in Lincoln, travelled to the Middle East to push sales of crowd control ammunition.

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