The United Nations defines human rights violations as deprivation of life; torture, cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; slavery and forced labor; arbitrary arrest or detention; arbitrary interference with privacy; war propaganda; discrimination; and advocacy of racial or religious hatred. In 1997 the U.S. Congress passed the “Leahy Laws” which cutoff security aid to specific units of foreign militaries if the Pentagon and the State Department determine a country has committed a gross violation of human rights, such as shooting civilians or summarily executing prison…
Read more@ISIDEWITH11mos11MO
Yes
@9ZCQFQF1mo1MO
The UK is a democratic state that has prided itself for decades as a promoter of human rights worldwide, and we would be undermining our own values by providing military aid to countries accused of abusing rights. We should not be aiding those states to whom these restrictions apply, as it merely serves to diminish our credibility on the world stage and flies against what the country stands for.
Every country is accused of human right violations at some point. A blanket ban on any accusation (particular with no backwards time limit) would mean we cannot sell to anyone.
@9LSFQL68mos8MO
The uk should have the right to conduct its oen independent foreign policy, furthermore the defence system is an important source of not only innovation but national pride.
@ISIDEWITH11mos11MO
No, this could prevent our allies from defending themselves against our mutual enemies
@9ZCQFQF1mo1MO
These restrictions would only hamper the ability of countries with human rights violations to defend themselves. As a leader of the democratic world, the UK's allies should not be allied with countries committing such violations, and so any country whom these restrictions would effect should not be our allies in the first place.
@9J8XJSX11mos11MO
The decisions should be made on a whole range of factors not just allegations of human rights abuse.
@8SHDQKH 9mos9MO
Yes, but nations should rely on their own appraisals of human rights abuses, as many human rights organizations are biased and uphold double-standards.
@9VM4JQ32mos2MO
There would need to be clear undeniable proof that human rights violations had been committed intentionally
@9PT47P56mos6MO
Yes, where there is clear evidence of military weapons and munitions being used to perpetrate human rights violations.
@9NS7VWY7mos7MO
The UK should continue to export arms, just like France and the US. If these 3 nations were to stop the market would just further open to Russia and China giving them more influence in certain regions. Yes, this isnt ethical. However, it is the reality.
@9NRL35G7mos7MO
Yes, but the accusations have to be credible and not from parties invested in seeing those countries be weakened militarily.
@9NG7SH87mos7MO
Yes, there should be restrictions on government arms sales to countries CONVICTED of human rights violations.
@9JHYPPS11mos11MO
We should not sell arms reasonably likely to be used against civilians to countries proven to commit human rights violations.
@9L879JS9mos9MO
we don't even let our own citizens carry weapons for self defense since you started letting the wolfs in to the sheep pen
so my stance on this is clear weapons should be a fundmental human right for self presevation and a check an balance for criminals behavior
any nation committing human rights violations is subject to interpretation and HUMAN RIGHTS are not god given and the term is about HUMAN RIGHTS law which is protected classes and characturistics serve as a class system making 2nd or 3rd class citziens out of normal humans living their lives in their own nations
You can't have the same laws for wolfs as sheep? obviously you need to make a choice we are all wolfs or we are all cattle.
@9JXPFHCLiberal Democrat10mos10MO
No, because I believe it's a form of soft power as a way of pressuring them into changing their views. I also think if you don't, other state actors will take the opportunity to persuade them to their views.
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