One year after our Court of Appeal victory the government has
still not complied with the Court's ruling. Read more in
today's Observer about the pressure for action.
( [link removed] )


Dear friends,

It’s one year since we won a landmark victory at the Court of
Appeal challenging the UK’s arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

As a result of that ruling, we have stopped the export of new
weapons for use in the war in Yemen. A multi-billion pound deal
to sell more fighter jets to Saudi Arabia remains on hold.

This is significant progress, but there is more to do. The
government is fighting every step of the way to continue the arms
sales. It is appealing to the Supreme Court for a final decision,
with the hearing scheduled for 23-25 November.

Meanwhile the government has still not complied with the Court of
Appeal ruling that it should review its previous decisions to
allow weapons sales, and it is continuing to supply the war in
Yemen.

It’s not just our lawyers who are demanding answers;in today’s
Observer all of the Opposition parties have united
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to call for urgent action.

Please stand with us
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as we try to end these sales once and for all.

We must end UK complicity in the war in Yemen. Thousands of
people have been killed by five years of bombing, many more by
hunger and disease, and now Yemen is facing a dual threat of
cholera and COVID-19 with a health system shattered by war.

Shamefully, UK-made fighter jets, bombs and missiles have played
a central role in this destruction.

Our case challenges the sale of these weapons. UK rules state
that weapons should not be sold where there is a “clear risk”
that they might be used in violations of international
humanitarian law. Yet the UK government has continued to support
the supply of weapons to the Saudi-led coalition, even as it has
bombed schools, hospitals and food supplies.

If the government won’t follow its own rules, we need to make it
do so.

In last year’s ruling, the Court of Appeal found that that the
government had failed to properly assess the risk of weapons
exported from the UK being used in violations of international
humanitarian law.

The government was ordered to retake all its previous decisions
to export arms to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners, in a
lawful way. New arms sales were put on hold until this review is
complete. The government agreed to undertake the review as a
matter of priority.

Yet, one year on, it has still not completed the review ordered
by the Court.

All the time that review has not been completed, weapons sales
can continue under pre-existing licences – and BAE Systems can
still maintain the warplanes bombing Yemen.

So we must keep the pressure on. The government was ordered to
retake its decisions, not just carry on with business as usual.

You can help build pressure by sharing the latest news
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and our petition to the International Trade Secretary
( [link removed] )
demanding an end to the arms sales now.

Thank you for your support.

Campaign Against Arms Trade ( [link removed] )

Sarah

Campaign Against Arms Trade
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