2015-06-29 16:04:00

Major arms exporter Sweden to put human rights before weapon sales ‎


Major arms exporter Sweden has decided to cut arms export to undemocratic countries, in an effort to prioritize human rights in its foreign policy.  Sweden is the world's 12th biggest arms exporter, with arms companies like SAAB responsible for thousands of jobs.  Sweden, though proud of its neutral status, exported arms worth  $1.44 billion to 55 countries in 2013.  Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's centre-left government has emphasised the promotion of human rights and feminism in its foreign policy, sparking criticism that Sweden is hurting its local industry while ignoring growing threats such as Russia.  "A country's democratic status will be a central condition for an export permit,"  said Hans Wallmark, a member of Sweden’s Conservatives, the main opposition party,  who is chairman of a cross-party on the arms trade.   Wallmark said Sweden would be the first country in the world to introduce specific democratic criteria when exporting weapons, judging each country on the basis of its democratic institutions and its civil and political rights.  Human rights are already a factor in Swedish arms sales policy but the committee said the current arrangements were too weak and that the country needed a law that was clearer and more systematically applied.  (Source: Reuters)








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