Amnesty International lays down arms guidelines

Amnesty International (AI) has issued guidelines which it wants the G8 countries to respect, namely to adhere to two rules. Those selling arms should do so only to countries which have a proven track record concerning human rights and those buying arms should make sure that they are only deployed in certain conditions.

AI considers that governments which supply weapons should verify before sale whether the purchasing country is at risk of committing serious human rights abuses, war crimes or crimes against humanity. Regarding the purchasers, AI lays down the following guidelines: that weapons be used by law enforcement personnel only to protect life, that military usage of weapions be in accordance with international humanitarian law and that surplus and illegal weapons be periodically collected and destroyed.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru