UK government entitled to authorise arms supplies to Saudi Arabia as Yemeni death toll rises

The High Court in London dismissed a legal challenge from the NGO Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), which claimed that such arms transfers should not take place because of the clear risk that the weapons supplied would be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen’s armed conflict.

UK domestic law, EU law, the global Arms Trade Treaty (to which the UK is a state party), and the rules of customary international law require the UK to take steps to ensure that its arms transfers are not used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights law. Amnesty and other NGOs including Human Rights Watch and Rights Watch (UK) made submissions to the court during the judicial review.

Since the conflict in Yemen began, more than 13,000 civilians have been killed and injured.

James Lynch, Amnesty International’s head of arms control and human rights, said: “This is a deeply disappointing outcome which gives a green light to the UK authorities - and potentially Saudi Arabia’s other arms suppliers - to continue authorising arms transfers to the Kingdom despite the clear risk they will be used to commit violations.

“Irrespective of this ruling, the UK and other governments should end their shameless arms supplies to Saudi Arabia. They may amount to lucrative trade deals, but the UK risks aiding and abetting these terrible crimes.

“Extensive and credible reports - including Amnesty International’s own research on the ground in Yemen - have in our view demonstrated that such weapons have been used to commit serious violations, including war crimes, against civilians in Yemen and that - in light of the clear risk - authorising further transfers would be counter to the UK’s obligations under international law.

“The verdict is a deadly blow for Yemenis under attack from a Saudi Arabia-led coalition bolstered by UK-manufactured weapons.”