WASHINGTON, April 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Amnesty International USA applauds the president's reported plans to tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons by calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the Organization of American States (OAS) Firearms Convention that has contributed to massive human rights violations in Latin America over the past decade.

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"The United States has long taken a back seat in supporting multilateral efforts to tackle irresponsible and illegal conventional arms transfers. President Obama's call for the U.S. Senate to ratify this treaty signals its recognition of the importance of working multilaterally on an issue key to preventing human rights violations," said Colby Goodman, Amnesty International USA's arms expert.

Otherwise known as the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), this treaty includes key provisions designed to help thwart illicit trafficking in firearms. For example, it requires signatories to keep records needed to trace and identify illicitly trafficked firearms, key to helping the United State track down U.S. arms smuggled into South America.

In 2003, Amnesty International participated in efforts to develop Model Brokering Regulations connected with the OAS Firearms Convention, which included key human rights provisions. The regulation requires signatories to:

"prohibit brokering activities and refuse to grant licenses if it has reason to believe that the brokering activities will, or seriously threaten to: (a) result in acts of genocide or crimes against humanity; (b) violate humans rights contrary to international law; and, (c) lead to the perpetration of war crimes contrary to international law...."

Since late 2003, Amnesty International, as part of the Control Arms Campaign, has been encouraging governments to support such human rights provisions in an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) being discussed at the United Nations. More than 145 countries have signaled their support for the treaty. The ATT is currently under review by the Obama administration. AIUSA encourages swift endorsement of that treaty.

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org

SOURCE Amnesty International