Control Arms

Control Arms: one person killed every minute by arms Photo: Crispin Hughes/Oxfam

Control Arms: One person every minute is
killed by arms.

Lack of controls on the arms trade fuels conflict, poverty and human rights abuses worldwide.

Oxfam joined the Control Arms campaign in 2003 to demand governments toughen up controls on the arms trade and introduce an international Arms Trade Treaty to stop arms being sold to those likely to misuse them.

Over a million people have joined the campaign.

In June 2006, the "Million Faces" petition was presented to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. In December 2006, 153 governments voted at the UN to begin work towards an historic, legally-binding international Arms Trade Treaty.

Keeping up the pressure

Negotiations on the terms of the Arms Trade Treaty began in July 2010, leading up to a conference in 2012. We hope member states will develop, sign and ratify an international Arms Trade Treaty at this conference in 2012.

Oxfam attended the UN conference in July 2010 to encourage the nations of the world to establish a treaty that holds governments to account, and is workable, enforceable and strong enough to save lives.

Loopholes expose New Zealand to illicit arms deals

Oxfam exposes the weaknesses in New Zealand company law that enabled unscrupulous international arms brokers to drag the country into the deadly business of the illegal arms trade, highlighting the urgent need for a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) .

Watch the video: Dying for action

Oxfam New Zealand supports peace-building work in the Pacific

Oxfam New Zealand is working with partners in the Pacific, supporting peace-building and conflict-resolution initiatives.

How you can help

Donate
Take action
Oxfam Unwrapped
Oxfam Trailwalker
Support a team
Oxfam Trailwalker

Follow

From fear to a Fairtrade future

Sign up for oxfam e-updates

Read Oxfam blogs