Illicit Arms Brokers: Aiding and Abetting Atrocities

Author: Austin, Kathi
Publication: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Topics: International Public Health
Keywords: Arms control ILLEGAL arms transfers International cooperation Money laundering
Bibliographic information +

The author comments on the role of arms brokers in the international arms trade, especially illicit gun trafficking which arms combatants in civil wars, genocides and areas under UN arms embargoes. The author reviews the history of illegal arms dealers and responses from the UN and national governments (e.g. United States). She also explains why domestic-only efforts have failed and notes the need for cooperation in the international community to avoid incidents such as the Rwanda genocide.