“Arms trade borders on grievous human rights and the rest of the free world should be united in their effort to stop this.  The United Nation’s tagline of “weapons of war to plough shares” should not be mere rhetoric but give effect to this.”
- Aiah Foday-Khabenje, Head of the Assoication of Evangelicals in Africa

Read more statements of support from Christian Leaders

Oxfam America Releases New Report on Arms Smuggling

Thousands of Churches Join in Day of Fasting and Prayer

In an amazing expression of Christian unity across the globe, churches from all across America responded to calls from their international brothers and sisters to join in a Day of Fasting and Prayer for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).  The Day of Fasting was held to uplift UN talks on the treaty taking place at the end of February.  Christians from over 3,500 congregations in 48 states sought information on how to join in the Day of Fasting and to learn more about the ATT.  Cloaked in a mantle of prayer, the talks ended in tremendous success, with many critical provisions – including verification measures that arms won’t be used in violation of human rights and the inclusion of ammunition – being included in the proposed language.  There are still more talks that will be held and more work to be done before the treaty’s anticipated completion in the summer of 2012, but this is a powerful beginning that sets a great tone for future work.

Why Should Christians Care About the ATT?

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace” begins the famous prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.  For millions of God’s children all over the world, the reality of peace is only a dream.  For those living in conflict zones, power is not established through elections, but by who has the most guns and bullets.  War lords, rival clans, and drug smugglers thrive off black market arms trade.  And because there are currently no international agreements regulating weapons sales, those with malicious intent can exploit loopholes in the laws set by individual states to keep themselves armed.  The ATT would be the first ever agreement that would set international standards for arms sales and close those loopholes.

Read the letter to American Churches on Day of Fasting from Bishop Elias of Southern Sudan

U.S. Hearings Begin for Real Lord of War, Viktor Bout
Legal loopholes allowed Bout to traffick arms for decades

Viktor Bout is accused of exploiting ambiguous and lax laws to traffic arms illegally since the 90s. He has dealt with known terrorists and sold arms in some of the worst war zones, including Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan. Bout’s illegal operations were the inspiration for the blockbuster movie The Lord of War. We have strict laws for the global trade of iPods and bananas, why not arms?

The ATT will not impact domestic gun laws in any way or restrict arms trade between legitimate actors.  What it will do is ensure that countries enforce common sense regulations that can dramatically stem the flow of weapons into the hands of bad actors.  As the largest arms exporter in the world, and also the country with some of the strictest regulations, it is essential that the U.S. use its moral leadership to push for robust and forceful regulations.  To meet this standard, the treaty must include provisions that require countries to certify that the weapons they sell will not be used in violation of international human rights.  And, because many conflict zones already have a plentiful supply of weapons, the treaty must cover the sale of ammunition if it is going to effectively reign in violence.

RELEVANT Magazine:  The Most Vital Treaty You’ve Never Heard Of

The Church is called to be a witness both to the promise we have and to the places in our world that fall short of God’s ideal.  In too many places, women who must walk miles each day to draw water for their families face the real likelihood that they will be raped at gunpoint.  Families in impoverished regions live with the knowledge that at any moment they could be forced from their homes by violent conflict in which they play no part.  Parents carry with them the ever present dread that the next innocent victim caught in gun fire could be their child.  From the Sudan, to Kosovo, to Burma, to the Somali coast and Mexican border, the continents and contexts are different, but the pain and grief caused by the unregulated flow of arms is the same.  In the face of these realities, few will oppose ATT in the open.  But there are a number of special interests operating in the shadows seeking to undermine negotiations.  That is why the Church must shine its light and be a witness for the voiceless and vulnerable.

As Christians all await the day when our swords will be beaten into ploughshares, we live in the tension between our call to be peacemakers and the Apostle’s admonition that “the State does not bear the sword in vain.”  While this leads us to wrestle with difficult questions about whether violence can be justified, the Church should be a leading voice in advocating for measures that promote peace and can curtail violence.  There are times when history presents the Church with an opportunity to influence events that can have a positive impact on the lives of millions – to change not just one life at a time, but transform the conditions of life for entire peoples.  The Arms Trade Treaty is one such moment.