World leaders at the United Nations last week backed two steps in relation to the Arms Trade Treaty, promoted by churches, to make people safer through new laws to control deadly weapons.
Campaigners for the civil society coalition Control Arms say radical changes are still needed in the latest draft of the Arms Trade Treaty under negotiation at the United Nations if the treaty is to save lives. Christian voices joined the criticism of the latest developments at the Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty currently underway in New York, United States.
Christian leaders representing organizations of some 90 percent of the world’s two billion Christians have issued a joint appeal to the 194 governments negotiating the first global Arms Trade Treaty: Keep ammunition in the treaty.
Christian leaders representing organizations of some 90 percent of the worldâs two billion Christians have issued a joint appeal to the 194 governments currently negotiating the first global Arms Trade Treaty: Keep ammunition in the treaty. Â
Oslo consultation by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, WCC, on the “The future of theology in the changing landscapes of universities in Europe and beyond”, 6 June 2012.
In a series of visits to the Toronto offices of WCC member churches in Canada, and in a lecture and panel discussion on the evening of Wednesday 14 March, the WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, explored contemporary hopes and challenges in the pursuit of Christian unity.
An International Theological Symposium was jointly organized by WCC-Just and Inclusive Communities, SCEPTRE, NCCI, Bishop's and Gossner Theological College from 13-16th December, 2011 at SCEPTRE, Shrachi Centre, 74B, A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata-16.
The WCC affirms an arms trade treaty as a legal instrument that has three complementary tasks. It must prevent arms transfers to states where the government poses a threat to its own people or to other states. It must improve trade controls so that, where there is a high risk of re-export or diversion to organized criminals or armed groups, arms smuggling and black market sales are reduced or stopped. The ATT must also serve to protect communities and save lives.
El Consejo Mundial de Iglesias afirma que un tratado sobre el comercio de armas constituye un instrumento jurídico que tiene tres tareas complementarias. Debe evitar las transferencias de armas a Estados en los que el Gobierno supone una amenaza para su propia población o para otros Estados. Debe mejorar los controles del comercio de forma que cuando haya un alto riesgo de reexportación o de desvío hacia bandas criminales organizadas o grupos armados, se reduzca o ponga fin al contrabando de armas y a las ventas en el mercado negro. El TCA también debe servir para proteger a las comunidades y salvar vidas.
Le Conseil œcuménique des Églises se déclare en faveur d'un traité sur le commerce des armes ayant force d'instrument juridique, qui aurait trois tâches complémentaires. Il doit prévenir les transferts d'armes à destination des États dont le gouvernement constitue une menace pour sa propre population ou pour d'autres États. Il doit améliorer les réglementations commerciales afin qu'en cas de risque accru de réexportation ou de détournement vers des organisations criminelles ou des groupes armés, la contrebande d'armes et les ventes d'armes au marché noir soient réduites ou interrompues. Le TCA doit également servir à protéger les citoyens et à sauver des vies.