RWUK & OTHERS INTERVENE IN JUDICIAL REVIEW OF UK ARMS EXPORTS TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR USE IN YEMEN

6th February 2017

Next week will see the High Court rule for the first time on the lawfulness of the UKs trade in arms to Saudi Arabia in the context of the conflict in Yemen. The judicial review brought by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) against the Secretary of State responsible for licensing exports of weapons will begin on Tuesday 7 February and is expected to last for three days.

CAAT argues that it is unlawful for the UK government to continue to allow export of arms to Saudi Arabia in light of the mounting evidence as to the alleged breaches of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. CAAT argues that, where there is a clear risk that weapons might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, the government is obliged to suspend the sale of weapons.

International organizations, including theUnited Nations