Nobel Laureate nominates Campaign Against Arms Trade and Mwatana for Human Rights.
- Nobel Laureate, The American Friends Service Committee and Quaker Peace & Social Witness, announce Campaign Against Arms Trade & Mwatana for Human Rights as their nominees for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
- Nomination intended to draw attention to the suffering of the Yemeni people and to CAAT’s Judicial Review which challenges the UK government’s decision to resume arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition bombing Yemen
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is honoured to receive a joint nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize with our partners, Mwatana for Human Rights, from Nobel Laureate the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW).
AFSC and QPSW’s choice of nomination is intended to highlight the suffering of the Yemeni people, who are faced with ongoing bombardment and blockade from the Saudi-led coalition. The nomination draws attention to CAAT’s ongoing work to stop the UK government’s sales of arms to Saudi Arabia, in particular CAAT’s Judicial Review that challenges the UK government’s decision to resume arms sales to the Saudi regime for use in the war in Yemen.
Founded in 1917, the AFSC is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice. The AFSC and British Friends Service Council accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Quakers worldwide in 1947. The prize recognized 300 years of Quaker efforts to heal rifts and oppose war.
Rachel Cunliffe, on behalf of AFSC commented that
“the timing of this nomination is intended to draw attention to the Judicial Review being conducted in the UK about arms trading in Saudi Arabia and to highlight…the proxy war [in Yemen]… The pairing of the two organizations is intended to hold up collaborations between local organizations and activism with initiatives by civil society to engage policy and law making through legal and diplomatic channels”
Oliver Robertson, Head of Quaker Peace and Social Witness (part of Quakers in Britain), said:
“We hope this nomination will not only highlight the excellent work for peace by Mwatana and Campaign Against Arms Trade but encourage others to shut off the flow of armaments and instead work hard to build a sustainable peace in Yemen. We want to recognise the dedication, faithfulness and respect for humanity of all that is accomplished and which we in turn nominate.”
Founded in 1973, Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based organization working to end the international arms trade. In 2012, CAAT was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, the Alternative Nobel Prize for innovative and effective campaigning against the global arms trade.
Dana Aboul Jabine from Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
“We are honoured that the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) have chosen to recognise the work of CAAT and our partners, Mwatana for Human Rights, in solidarity with the people of Yemen.
The arms trade enables death, destruction, and oppression around the world, and nowhere is this more evident today than in Yemen where UK-made fighter jets continue to drop UK-made bombs, killing and maiming civilians. We are grateful that this nomination intends to highlight our work towards ending UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and to other states pursuing war and repression”.
Mwatana for Human Rights is a grassroots organisation working in Yemen, defending and supporting the rights of the Yemeni people.
Radhya Almutawakel, the chairperson of Mwatana said
“We’ve learned the hard way that peace does not exist in Yemen without justice. Warring parties launch attacks, abuse civilians, and commit war crimes trusting impunity will continue. This nomination is a source of strength for Mwatana as we continue our work towards a Yemen where there is credible and holistic accountability and redress for the civilians who have suffered the horrors of this war.”
Notes
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based, grass-root led organisation working to end the international arms trade.
In June 2019, following a case brought by CAAT, the Court of Appeal ruled that the UK government had acted unlawfully when it licensed the sale of UK-made arms for use in Yemen. New arms export licences, representing hundreds of millions of pounds of arms sales, were put on hold, while the government reviewed its previous licensing decisions.
The UK government resumed issuing arms export licences for use in the conflict in July 2020. CAAT has filed a new legal challenge against this decision.
Check out our FAQs and find out what this nomination means for our campaigning.
