Stop Arming War Criminals: New Electronic Campaign by Maat Reveals Companies Involved in Human Rights Violations

Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights has launched an electronic campaign titled "Stop Arming War Criminals," coinciding with the tenth session of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises in Relation to Human Rights. This session is being held from December 16 to 20, 2024, and is tasked with developing an international instrument or treaty to regulate the activities of transnational corporations in protecting human rights. The campaign aims to urge companies and business enterprises to adopt responsible practices in arms transfer by developing monitoring and risk assessment mechanisms and adhering to international standards, particularly the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These principles hold all companies accountable for respecting human rights in their business activities.

The continued flow of weapons into conflict zones exacerbates armed conflicts and civil wars, prolonging human suffering and threatening regional and international security. Businesses, the private sector, and corporations play a vital role in this context, as they manufacture, transport, and market conventional weapons to parties involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Companies that collaborate with these parties risk complicity in these crimes, whether by supplying military equipment, assisting in transportation and delivery, or investing in arms companies that operate in areas where serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law occur.

Throughout December 2024, Maat calls on business institutions and companies to take full responsibility for halting the flow of weapons to conflict zones, particularly those used to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. With each passing day, more lives are lost in Sudan, the Gaza Strip, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and other countries due to the complicity of business institutions in the irresponsible arms trade. Maat urges the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises in Relation to Human Rights to swiftly issue the proposed instrument, which will serve as a powerful tool for enhancing the role of companies in preventing, addressing, and mitigating the negative impacts on human rights resulting from arms transfers, including the diversion and unregulated or illicit transfer of weapons.