ARMS TRADE PRESENTATION

Arms Trafficking

Presentation by: D'errico Simon, Feppo Rita, Lombardi Maria Antonietta, Minichino Asia and Reale Caterina

index

introduction

in italy

in the uk

in the usa

in china

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action programme for people, the planet and prosperity. Signed on 25 September 2015 by the governments of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, and approved by the UN General Assembly, the Agenda consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which set for sustainable development have a global validity, concern and involve all countries and components of society, from private companies to the public sector, from civil society to information and culture operators. The 17 Goals refer to a set of important development issues that take into account in a balanced way the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and ecological - and aim to end poverty, combating inequality, tackling climate change, but moreover building peaceful societies that respect human rights.

16

Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. People everywhere should be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives whatever their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation. However, ongoing and new violent conflicts around the world are derailing the global path to peace and achievement of Goal 16. Alarmingly, the year 2022 witnessed a more than 50 per cent increase in conflict-related civilian deaths – the first since the adoption of Agenda 2030 – largely due to the war in Ukraine. Governments, civil society and communities need to work together to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights is key to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms, combating corruption, and ensuring inclusive participation at all times.

More in particular, goal 16.4 wants to significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime. Armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting economic growth and often resulting in long-standing grievances among communities. In addition, violence affects children’s health, development and well-being, and their ability to thrive. It causes trauma and weakens social inclusion.

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IN italy

The very complex Italian investigation - which lasted for more than one year, with the full dedication and commitment of the Carabinieri of Torre Annunziata under the leadership of the District Antimafia Prosecutor's Office of Naples - triggered leads towards Austria. On the basis of an Italian request for a European Investigation Order (EIO), an Austrian investigation was carried out in Klagenfurt. Fundamental evidence was then gathered in the framework of the Austrian investigation. Thanks to the outstanding and professional cooperation of the Austrian Police and the Prosecutor's Office, supported by Eurojust, an exchange of information was ensured for the overall period of the investigation, and exceptional results were obtained. During the course of the delicate investigation - involving even controlled deliveries and combined surveillance - Eurojust held three coordination meetings to bring together the involved judicial and police authorities of both Italy and Austria.

During the investigations, the following actions were planned, coordinated and carried out the arrest of: -a first Italian courier, who was found in possession of 15 pistols without serial numbers, including 10 revolvers, five automatic rifles and more than 400 rounds of ammunition; -two other Italian couriers, who were found in possession of 12 pistols, including 10 revolvers and two automatic rifles without serial numbers and 600 rounds of ammunition; -another individual, who was found in possession of four rifles and two carbines without serial numbers; -a fifth courier, who was found in possession of 11 pistols without serial numbers and more than 600 rounds of ammunition; -two Austrian gunsmiths. They are all suspected of being members of a very dangerous criminal ring belonging to the Camorra. Beginning in 2011, the two arrested Austrian gunsmiths had illegally sold more than 800 new pistols to Italian criminals, all with removed serial numbers, as well as 50 Kalashnikovs and 10 machine guns with ammunition, with an estimated value of approximately EUR 500000.

IN THE UK

Unfortunately, the UK arms trade would not be possible without the support of the UK Government which is an active participant. There are lots of ways in which the government supports the arms trade: -The UK has an entire arms sales unit dedicated to promoting weapons purchase to whoever will buy them. -The UK government helps to organize arms fairs, events which facilitate international arms deals -The UK government provides an insurance for companies making arms deals The government is responsible for ‘controlling’ the export of military equipment from the UK. Companies must apply to the government for permission to export military equipment and the government should assess applications against its export guidelines.

However, there is a clear risk that the items might be used for ‘internal repression’ or in the ‘commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law’, or where ‘they would provoke or prolong armed conflicts’.Campaign against Arms Trade (CAAT), a UK group that calls for an end to the international arms trade, says “the majority of UK arms exports continue to go to highly autocratic regimes”. CAAT has twice taken the Government to court to obtain a Judicial Review of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in October 2023, several Members have called on the Government to suspend arms exports to Israel; Zarah Sultana (Lab) has introduced a Private Members Bill calling for the suspension of arms sales to countries “where it cannot be demonstrated that arms sold will not be used in violation of international law.” The Government has resisted suggestions from the Committees on Arms Export Controls to introduce a post-shipment verification system to monitor the end-use of military equipment exported from the UK.

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28.8

IN THE USA

It’s interesting to think about the fact that, in the Usa, arms production and detention is totally normal and legalized, but does it really mean a safer nation? Let’s talk about it with some data. The most dangerous USA state is Mississippi: there are gun deaths every 100.000 inhabitants. Mississippi is also one of the state with fewer laws that regulate arms possession at all.

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Even though it is legal to own a firearm, the United States is not safe from illegal dealing. In fact, the US has been facing an arms trafficking crisis for some time now: from 2010 to 2020, more than 600000 criminal weapons were traced from the state where they were recovered, which means that they were probably trafficked. The crime movement tends to flow from the state with weak weapons laws to the state with stronger ones: 73% of the crime weapons recovered in New York come from outside the state. The problem is getting worse and the administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken measures to tackle the situation.

Usa doesn’t only have a particular internal situation: did you know that it’s also the largest arms exporter in the world? Its exportation trend is bigger than the one of France, Russia and china (the other three major exporters) combined together. During 2023, US hit a record of $238 billion of military equipment sold to foreign governments, with a 16% increase. It is playing a big role into the Ukraine-Russia war, committing more than $47 billion in security assistance to support Ukraine’s effort to defend itself. Actually, after Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, the Obama Administration provided Ukraine nonlethal security assistance. In 2017, the Trump Administration announced US readiness to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Decades of history of the economic growth has enabled China to emerge as a major player in the global arms trade. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Chna was the fifth largest arms exporter in the world from 2010 to 2020 – behind the United States, Russia, France and Germany. From 2010 to 2020, China exported nearly 16.6 billion of conventional weapons across the globe.

China

3.6%

77.3%

19.1%

The 77.3% went to Asia, an additional 19.1% into Africa and the remaining 3.6% to other parts of the world.

As the 5th largest arms exporter, China’s refusal to publish specific numbers has made it hard to analyze the impact of Chinese exports. Furthermore, China’s policy of non-interference means once it has sold weapons, it avoids interfering with what the state then does with them. In order to follow the new treaty to the Arms Trade Treary (ATT) signed on 6 July 2020, China wanted to help fight the illicit arms trade that fuelled deadly conflicts across the continent. The assessment came after President Xi Jinping told African leaders that China would work with them to “safeguard a peaceful and secure global environment”. “It was a surprise for everyone involved in the arms control movement because China is traditionally a closed country,” said Singo, deputy director of the Nairobi-based think tank Security Research and Information Centre (SRIC).

Nowadays, US intelligence shared with allies shows that Russia requested supplies from China including surface-to-air missiles, drones, intelligence-related equipment and armoured and logistics vehicles. But Beijing denies that any military assistance is being considered. In fact China’s denial comes in the context of a joint statement by Russia and China on 4 February 2022. In conclusion, the truth behind a global power like China is impossible to reach because it seems to be masked by a mystifying government.

THANKS