ARMS TREATY NEEDED, MR. OBAMA

An historic opportunity to stop arming thugs and tyrants.
Dear Kevin, I have good news and bad news.  Good news first — there are dozens of tough regulations in place protecting you from buying an oddly shaped banana.  But regulations on the global trade of weapons? Not so much.  While the international community regulates the heck out of things like bananas and dinosaur bones, there are virtually no global rules for the trade of products designed to kill and injure.  That’s the bad news. And it’s absolutely nuts.  But a solution is in sight. Starting July 2, representatives of nearly every country will convene at the UN in New York to negotiate an historic Arms Trade Treaty.  Urge President Obama to fight for a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty that includes meaningful protections against human rights abuses.  Amnesty has spent the last 10 years campaigning for a global solution to the irresponsible and illicit arms trade that puts human rights first.  The dirty truth is that the indiscriminate transfer of guns and ammunition results in hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Many of these weapons are used to commit sickening human rights abuses.  Consider these sobering facts: Child soldiers. Governments and armed groups in 19 countries are training children — some as young aseight years old – as to be killers. They load these youngsters up with weapons obtained via the irresponsible arms trade.  Armed violence against women and girls. Without a doubt, guns have fueled the epidemic of rape and other sexual violence in countries torn apart by armed conflict such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the DRC 48 women are raped every hour by armed groups. How do we help civilians dodge the bullets? Rein in the flow of arms to thugs and tyrants intent on terror and repression.  The global Arms Trade Treaty won’t erase violence. But over time, it will constrain the indiscriminate export of guns and ammunition, slow down the ability of human rights abusers to arm and re-arm themselves and help prevent human rights abuses.  Help make the world a better place today – sign our Arms Trade Treaty petition to President Obama today. Sincerely,  Frank Januzzi Deputy Executive Director, Head of Washington DC Office Amnesty International USA P.S. We went bananas yesterday in Times Square – watch and share the amazing video we played on billboards in New York City yesterday for thousands to see!

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