At the beginning of November 2017, it became known that Swiss arms companies also want to export to civil war countries in the future. This would require a relaxation of the export regulations. terre des hommes schweiz has therefore joined forces with 24 organizations to support a letter from the group Switzerland Without an Army (GSoA) to the Security Policy Committee. At the same time, the state-owned armaments company Ruag is planning to build an ammunition factory in Brazil.
In a joint letter to the Security Policy Committee of the Council of States, 13 Swiss arms companies called for export regulations to be relaxed. During an official meeting of the Council, they were given the opportunity to explain that they would also like to export war material to civil war countries in the future. Armaments are already being exported to countries that are involved in armed conflicts that do not take place on their own territory. A further relaxation of export regulations would be disastrous. For this reason, terre des hommes schweiz and 24 other organizations are supporting a letter from the group Switzerland Without an Army (GSoA) to the Security Policy Committee of the Council of States, which will be the first to decide on the issue. The letter calls on the Commission not to comply with the arms companies’ request.
Brazil – drastically increased murder rate
In December last year, the federal armaments company Ruag announced its intention to build an ammunition factory in Brazil. Ruag hopes to break the monopoly of the Brazilian ammunition manufacturer CBC. These are frightening developments for both Brazil and Switzerland. The number of murders in Brazil has increased dramatically in the last 10 years, with 48 percent of victims between the ages of 15 and 29. 72 percent of those murdered were shot. There are numerous studies that show that more available weapons also mean more deaths. Many murders with firearms are committed in the heat of the moment, for example during fights in a bar. As more and more weapons are in circulation in Brazil, the price of weapons on the black market has fallen, meaning that more and more petty criminals have access to them.
Swiss reputation at stake
Switzerland is proud of its reputation as a neutral partner and peace mediator. If it relaxes the regulations on the export of war material and the state-owned armaments company expands internationally, it risks this good reputation. terre des hommes schweiz has joined 24 other organizations in addressing an open letter to the Council of States.
