§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the international agreements on arms control signed by Her Majesty's Government which include(a) the requirement to take into account the human rights record of the recipient states and (b) the potential which the equipment has to be used for internal repression. [93290]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe UK Government are party to two sets of internationally agreed criteria governing the export of arms and defence equipment which include requirements to take into account the human rights record of the recipient states and the risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression. These are the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, adopted by EU member states in June 1998, and the principles governing arms transfers agreed by OSCE participating states in 1993.
379WCriteria Two of the EU Code states that member states will:
(a) not issue an export licence if there is clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression; and
(b) exercise special caution and vigilance in issuing licences, on a case-by-case basis and taking account of the nature of the equipment, to countries where serious violations of human rights have been established by the component bodies of the UN, the Council of Europe or by the EU.
The OSCE principles provide that each participating State will, in considering proposed transfers, take into account the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the recipient country, and will avoid transfers which would be likely to be used for the violation or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedoms or for the purpose of repression.