Ban Ki Moon Calls For Stronger Arms Flow Control Following Several Incidents Breaching International Humanitarian Law

by Jean Marie Abellana / Feb 06, 2016 11:10 PM EST

Ban Ki Moon urged parties to the Arms Trade Treaty keep from providing weapons to countries that might use them to cause harm to others. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

At an event held at the Central Hall Westminster in London on Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon urged states that took part in the Arms Trade Treaty to become responsible for regulating or controlling the flow of arms to countries that might utilize them in dreadful ways.

Speaking before a crowd of over 2000 people, the Secretary-General used the opportunity to express his appreciation and compliments to the United Kingdom for its active involvement in international humanitarian activities.

However, in terms of arms control, Ban Ki Moon said the international arena needs "states that are party to the Arms Trade Treaty to set an example in fulfilling one of the Treaty's main purposes: controlling arms flows to actors that may use them in ways that breach international humanitarian law."

This remark is fueled by the recent bombing attacks in Yemen, which was reportedly initiated by coalition forces from Saudi Arabia. Ban described Yemen as a country "awash with weapons" as the coalition airstrikes targeted civilians and destroyed "schools, hospitals, mosques, and civilian infrastructure."

According to The Guardian on Friday, Ban Ki Moon said he regrets how major powers failed in their promise of preventing the occurence of massive human rights abuses and massacres in countries like Yemen, Cambodia, Srebrenica, Rwanda and Syria.

While Britain denied allegations about their involvement in the alleged attacks by Saudi Arabia, they admitted they took part in training some of the pilots who were responsibile for the airstrikes.

Saudi Arabia reportedly received close to $43.5 billion-worth of arms export licenses from the U.K. in the past six months.

Meanwhile, United Nations Assocation-UK (UNA-UK) Executive Director Natalie Samarasinghe expressed UNA-UK's desire to fully support the United Nations.

"The need for an effective U.N. is greater than ever. The international system has brought security and prosperity to the UK. It is in our interests to support the U.N. and to help it work better. This has been UNA-UK's constant refrain to the UK Government," Samarasingshe said.