Amnesty International Criticizes Draft UN Arms Treaty

Amnesty International has criticized a new draft of the proposed United Nations Arms Trade Treaty, saying it would fail to prevent arms transfer to countries where the arms could be used to commit serious human rights violations.

In a statement, the rights monitoring organization welcomed the draft's proposed ban on weapons being transferred to countries known for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

However, it said it would fail to prevent arms going to countries where there is a substantial risk the arms will be used to commit or facilitate summary and arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, or torture committed outside armed conflict.

The draft could become the first international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global conventional arms trade.

The UN Arms Trade Treaty drafting conference ends on March 28.

With reporting by Reuters