Arms Trade Issues
Campaigns past and present
The UK government claims it has a "responsible" attitude to arms sales. Yet it spends public money on persuading some of the world's worst human rights abusers and most unstable regimes to buy weapons. CAAT's campaign says This is NOT OK.
Introduction to the Arms Trade
The vast majority of arms sold around the world, including those to human rights abusing governments or into conflict areas, are legal and actively supported by governments. Take our tour around the key issues of the arms trade.
Arms Fairs exist so that arms buyers and sellers can come together, network and make deals. They allow the weapons manufacturers to promote their products to regimes in conflict, those with terrible human rights records, or with human development needs.
The UK government doesn't just approve the sales of arms to unstable & despotic regimes - it actively promotes them - through a taxpayer funded arms sales unit. CAAT is calling for the closure of the UKTI Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) and an end to its functions.
One of the few ways the Government and the arms companies can rally public support for the arms trade is to claim that it keeps people in work. But these jobs are supported by public funds and the Government could reallocate the resources to create work in far more socially-useful activities.
CAAT's other current issues
- Political Influence of Arms Companies
- Arms Trade Treaty
- Corporate Mercenaries
- Corruption
- Drones
- Export Credits
Issues which CAAT has focused on in the past:
CAAT's Previous Campaigns
- DISARM THE GALLERY: Stop the National Gallery hosting arms trade events (2012)
- BAE: The People's Jury: Holding BAE to account at their AGM and beyond (2010)
- Control BAE: Reopen the Saudi corruption inquiry (2007-2008)
- Clean Investment: Get organisations with arms trade investments to disinvest (1991-2007)
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Call The Shots: Arms industry influence on government
- Shut DESO: Campaign to close the government's arms sales department (2006)
- The Revolving Door: The movement of staff between government and arms industry (2005)
- Fanning the Flames: How UK arms exports fuel conflict (2003)
- Site Unseen: Exposing the arms trade (2003)
- Shelling Out: How taxpayers subsidise the arms trade (2002)
- Paying the Price: How the arms trade impacts on children around the world (2001)


