Campaign Against Arms Trade

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Mission: To end the international arms trade, which has a devastating impact on human rights and security, and damages economic development.

Type:Lobby Group / Campaigning organisation
Areas:Arms Industry
Acronym:CAAT
Legal Status:Not-for-profit. OpenCorporates-sm.svg
Founded:1974
Founder:Coalition of peace groups
HQ:London, UK
Funding:Not disclosed.
 Social-Media-Website.svgcaat.org.uk, caatunis.net
 Social-Media-Twitter.svg@CAATuk
 Social-Media-Facebook.svg@CampaignAgainstArmsTrade
 Social-Media-LinkedIn.svgCampaign Against Arms Trade
 Social-Media-Flickr.svgCampaign Against Arms Trade
 Social-Media-YouTube.svgCampaign Against Arms Trade
Page Contents

The Govt is Arming Saudi

CAAT is challenging the govt's decision to continue licensing the export of military equipment to Saudi Arabia.[1]
  • Jun.2019: the Court of Appeal found that Govt decisions to allow arms sales were ‘irrational and therefore unlawful’, and ordered the Govt to retake all decisions to export arms to Saudi Arabia in accordance with the law and to stop issuing new arms export licences to Saudi Arabia.[2]
    The govt refused to accept the judgment.
  • Jul.2020: the Secretary of State for International Trade told Parliament that a review had found that any violations of international law were “isolated incidents”, and would therefore resume issuing new licences for arms sales for use in Yemen: “clearing the backlog of licence applications for Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners.”[3]
  • Oct.2020: CAAT filed a new Judicial Review, challenging the Govt's mendacious decision.[4]

Defence & Security Equipment Int'l Arms Fair

DSE-International.svg
DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International Ltd) is the world’s largest Arms Fair, enabling arms buyers and sellers to make deals and network. It is held every two years, in the 2nd week in September, at ExCeL LondonWikipedia-W.svg, a huge exhibition centre in London Docklands. In Sept.2021, the Arms Fair is returning to London – as will CAAT.[5]

Banksy Donation

Civilian Drone Strike, a work by street artist Banksy, was auctioned at Art The Arms Fair, a 5-day exhibition coinciding with the Defence & Security Equipment International Arms Rair in east London. Banksy donated the £205,000 raised from the sale to the Campaign Against Arms Trade and Reprieve.

The work depicts a trio of Predator drones bombing a children’s picture of a house. The exhibition was the second half of a 2-week festival of protest against the DSEI, the world’s biggest Arms Fair, which brings together 1,600 makers and sellers of weapons and military equipment from some of the worst human rights-abusing regimes. Visit Banksy's website here.[6]

Resources

  • Former-UK-Parliament.svg
    The Political Influence Browser shows the links between the Govt and the Arms & Security Industries. Meetings between public servants and the Arms & Security sectors are documented, as are which former ministers, civil servants and military chiefs have gone on to work for weapons manufacturers, military service companies, and the security industry.
  • The Companies Map shows all European manufacturers in the Arms & Security sectors, and where they are located. As of Dec.2020, there were 407 manufacturers in the UK. There's Profit$ in Wars.
  • How the Arms Trade Influences Government. Former CAAT researcher Joe Lo uncovered how arms companies work behind the scenes to influence decision-makers: Perks, Groupthink, the Revolving Door, and Don't Rock the Boat. CAAT News, CAAT, Jan-Mar.2018. Original archived on May.15.2019.
  • UK Arms Export Licences: what military products, by which companies, and to which countries, have been approved by the UK Govt.

Funding

As a campaigning organisation, CAAT is unable to take advantage of many of the benefits open to charities, but makes applications for charitable funding to a small number of trusts and foundations for its research and educational work.

References

  1. ^ CAAT's Legal Challenge. The UK government continues to license the export of weapons for use in the war in Yemen. CAAT is challenging this in the courts. CAAT, Sept.25.2020.
  2. ^ Court of Appeal Finds Government Broke Law Over Saudi Arabia Arms Sales. Court of Appeal rules Saudi Arabia arms sales illegal. CAAT, Jun.20.2019.
  3. ^ Trade Update. Statement made by Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade. Parliament.uk, Jul.07.2020.
  4. ^ CAAT Files New Judicial Review Application Against Decision To Renew Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia. CAAT, Oct.27.2020.
  5. ^ DSEI: The World Leading Defence & Security Event. DSEI brings together the entire Defence & Security Industry to source the latest equipment and systems, develop international relationships, and generate new business opportunities. ShowsBee. Accessed Oct.07.2020.
  6. ^ Banksy gives £205,000 to human rights and anti-arms trade groups. Damien Gayle, The Guardian, Sept.16.2007.