A coalition of Canadian civil society organizations is deeply dismayed that Global Affairs Canada claims it has found “no credible evidence” linking Canadian exports of military equipment to human rights violations committed by Saudi Arabia. On 17 September 2019, the day Canada formally acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Deputy Ministers of International Trade and Foreign Affairs signed …
Analyzing Canada’s 2018 Report on Exports of Military Goods
On June 20, Global Affairs Canada released its Report on Exports of Military Goods – 2018. Analysis of this report reveals several worrying trends: an increase in the number of exported weapons systems, a willingness to export such systems to serial human-rights abusers, and persistent gaps in reporting transparency.
Top 5 Arms Exporters to Saudi Arabia 2014-2018
What does a cholera outbreak in Yemen have to do with the effective implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)? Everything.
Open letter to the PM re: arms exports to Saudi Arabia
The undersigned, representing a cross-section of Canadian civil society organizations focused on arms controls, human rights, international security, humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians in conflict, are writing to follow up on a letter that was sent you five months ago, outlining ongoing concerns about Canada’s export of LAVs to Saudi Arabia.
Tracing Canada’s military exports: Analyzing the 2017 report
The release of Global Affair Canada’s (GAC) Report on the Export of Military Goods from Canada—2017 provided the most authoritative and comprehensive account of Canadian military exports on record.
Bill C-47: Remarks to the Senate Standing Committee
U.S. reporting and licensing exemptions not consistent with ATT obligations Remarks to the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development – Delivered November 29, 2018 Published in The Ploughshares Monitor Volume 39 Issue 4 Winter 2018 by Cesar Jaramillo Thank you very much for the kind invitation to address this committee. For decades, efforts to better regulate illicit and …
ATT: Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation
Statement delivered by Cesar Jaramillo on behalf of Control Arms May 29, 2018 Geneva, Switzerland Published in The Ploughshares Monitor Volume 39 Issue 2 Summer 2018 Thank you, Chair. Control Arms recognizes the value of full and robust compliance with the Treaty in its entirety as the key measure of its effectiveness. At this time, however, we want to draw special attention …
Call for independent review into use of Canadian-made armoured vehicles in Saudi Arabia
A coalition of human rights and arms control groups sent a letter to Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, related to the report released by Global Affairs in May 2018 concerning allegations that Canadian-made military exports were used against civilians last year by the Saudi Arabian armed forces. The report revealed major shortcomings both in the investigation of the …
War in Yemen: A litmus test of the Arms Trade Treaty
In March 2015, following a long political crisis in Yemen in which all parties resorted to violence, Houthi rebels seized the capital Sana’a, triggering the collapse of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s internationally recognized government. Hadi fled into exile. On March 24, Hadi requested external military intervention from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). A coalition of Gulf Arab states, led …
Canada and Saudi Arabia: An arms deal no matter what
Seven months after disturbing footage appeared to show Canadian-made armoured vehicles being used against civilians in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, Global Affairs Canada announced the results of the investigation it launched into the alleged abuses. Addressing the House Foreign Affairs Committee in February, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that there was “no conclusive evidence” that Canadian equipment had been …