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Pax Christi urge UK Government to stop arms deals to Saudi Arabia


Pax Christi International, together with Pax Christi USA and Pax Christi UK, has sent letters to President Obama and Prime Minister May in which we have voiced our concern about the continuing conflict in Yemen between the government--supported by the Saudi-led coalition--and the Houthis, as well as the US and UK involvement with arms exports to Saudi Arabia. The United Nations Human Rights Office report that since March 2015 3,799 civilians have been killed and more than 6,000 injured. Three million have been forced to flee the violence.

The Saudi arms deals of the UK and US have been serious matters of discussion at last week's second annual Conference of State Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The treaty, which the US has signed and the UK has ratified, stipulates that arms should not be exported when there is an overriding risk that they would undermine peace and security and facilitate violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

In the letter to Theresa May they urge the UK government to stop arms deals with Saudi Arabia, as it has enabled the Saudi-led coalition to further intensify the bombing campaign in Yemen which is victimising civilians. The export of arms, such as last year's transfer of 58 aircraft and 2400 missiles, should end immediately; it is not only devastating for Yemen, but it will also undermine the security of the Arabian peninsula and feed global terrorism networks. In stead we urge your government to contribute to the restoration of peace talks and to deepen your engagement in support of locally and civilian-led conflict prevention, mitigation , peacebuilding and good governance.

Read the full text of the letter to Theresa May here www.paxchristi.net/sites/default/files/160830_letter_uk_saudi_arms_deals_-_signed_pdf.pdf

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