The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
July 26, 2012

U.S. Urged to Support 1st Global Arms Control Treaty 
-----------------------------------------------------


 
President Obama's comments on gun violence come as he faces pressure to
back a robust global arms treaty before a Friday deadline. All 193
members of the U.N. General Assembly are scrambling to complete the
first-ever global agreement regulating the arms trade. The United States
is by far the world’s largest producer, importer and exporter of
armaments. The Obama administration has demanded a number of exemptions
from the new proposals, citing so-called "national security interests."
Brian Wood, the head of Arms Control at Amnesty International, said
President Obama holds the key to determining whether the treaty will be
effective.

Brian Wood: "It’s still hanging in the balance. The decision is in the
White House with President Obama as to whether he will agree a 'golden
rule' in the treaty that will mandate governments to stop the transfer
of arms if it’s known or there’s a substantial risk the arms are
going to be used for war crimes or crimes against humanity, acts of
genocide, or serious violations of human rights.”

 

.