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Ecumenical declaration in support of an Arms Trade Treaty"Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matt: 26:52) Every day, thousands of people are killed, injured, raped, and forced to flee from their homes as a result of war and armed violence. The irresponsible and poorly regulated trade in conventional arms and ammunitions contributes to this suffering. This is why NGO´s, churches, ecumenical bodies and a growing number of governments are calling for an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to stop arms transfers from fuelling violent conflict, crime, poverty, and human rights abuses. Churches and faith-based organisations all over the world have long been promoting peace and development. The increasingly global trade in conventional arms is an ethical problem that needs to be addressed. The World Catechism of the Catholic Church says in article 2316 that “The production and the sale of arms affect the common good of nations and of the international community. Hence public authorities have the right and the duty to regulate them." The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has stated that “no transfer of arms is morally indifferent". On numerous occasions, the World Council of Churches has called on world governments to work towards general disarmament and to fortify the conversion from military production to civilian goods. In differing national contexts, churches have worked together, and with other faith communities, in pressing their respective governments to introduce robust and comprehensive legislation to regulate the international transfer of arms. Under international law, states can lawfully sell, acquire and possess arms for legitimate security, law-enforcement and self-defense needs as long as they comply with their obligations under international law when transferring arms. However, this is often not the case, with states importing, exporting or transferring arms that fuel conflict, violent crime and human rights abuses, undermine socio-economic development and poverty reduction, and are used in serious violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law. The scale of human suffering caused by poorly regulated and irresponsible international transfers of conventional arms and ammunition make political action by the world´s governments imperative. In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by a overwhelming majority of 151 yes votes that establishes a negotiation process for an ATT. The resolution creates preparatory committees in 2010 and 2011 where the text for an ATT will be discussed, and a UN Conference in 2012 where the final text will be negotiated. The debate has now moved from if there will be a Treaty to when, and what type of Treaty. As churches and ecumenical organisations we strongly welcome these steps towards an ATT. We further call on the members of the United Nations to recognize the urgency of agreeing an effective and comprehensive ATT based upon the following principles: States should ensure that no international transfer of arms or ammunition is permitted if there is a substantial risk that it will:
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About the declaration
This declaration has been adopted by the Gothenburg Process. Any church that wants to use and sign the declaration can do it, without changes. Please inform the Gothenburg Process if you are using the declaration, by sending an e-mail to info@gothenburgprocess.org |
The Gothenburg Process: Christian Council of Sweden, Life & Peace Institute, Swedish Mission Council, Swefor