Summer 2017 | Volume 38 | Issue 2

ATT legistation Behind the scenes Peacebuilders Q&A on South Sudan Examining Canada’s Ploughshares at work on A look at Canadians Geoffrey Duke discusses its tank-sized loophole the Space Security Index devoted to peace troubled path to statehood

The Ploughshares Monitor SUMMER 2017 | VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 2

MADE IN CANADA

Canadian weapons, Saudi Arabia, human-rights violations, and forced displacement

Project Ploughshares is an operating division of The Canadian Council of Churches “and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn Contents war any more.” Isaiah 2:4 The Ploughshares Monitor Volume 38 | Issue 2 Summer 2017 PROJECT PLOUGHSHARES STAFF Cesar Jaramillo Executive Director Debbie Hughes Matthew Pupic Tasneem Jamal Wendy Stocker Branka Marijan Barbara Wagner From the Director’s desk Sonal Marwah Jessica West Canada’s ATT legislation. 3 The Ploughshares Monitor is the quarterly by Cesar Jaramillo journal of Project Ploughshares, an operating division of The Canadian Council of Churches. Ploughshares works with churches, nongovernmental organizations, Arms and forced displacement and governments, in Canada and abroad, to advance policies and actions that prevent war 5 The case of the Canada-Saudi Arabia arms deal. and armed violence and build peace. Project Ploughshares is affiliated with by Sonal Marwah the KCU Centre for Peace Advancement, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo.

Q&A on South Sudan Office address: Project Ploughshares 12 A conversation with Geoffrey Duke. 140 Westmount Road North by Cesar Jaramillo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G6 Canada 519-888-6541, fax: 519-888-0018 [email protected]; www.ploughshares.ca

Project Ploughshares gratefully acknowledges The Space Security Index the ongoing financial support of the many Behind the scenes with Project Ploughshares. individuals, national churches and church 17 agencies, local congregations, religious orders, by Jessica West and organizations across Canada that ensure that the work of Project Ploughshares continues.

We are particularly grateful to The Simons Foundation The determined optimist in Vancouver 20 A tribute to the Hon. Douglas Roche. for its generous support.

All donors of $50 or more receive a complimentary subscription to The Ploughshares Monitor. Annual Re: Canadian leadership on disarmament subscription rates for libraries and institutions are: $35 in Canada, $45 (U.S.) in the United 22 A letter from Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. States, $50 (U.S.) internationally. Single copies are $5 plus shipping.

Unless indicated otherwise, material may be reproduced freely, provided the author and source are indicated and one copy is sent In Memoriam: Ann Strauss Gertler to Project Ploughshares. Return postage 23 is guaranteed. Publications Mail Registration No. 40065122. ISSN 1499-321X.

The Ploughshares Monitor is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index.

Printed at Waterloo Printing, Waterloo, Ontario. COVER: In 2014, Canada agreed to sell an undisclosed number of General Dynamics Land Systems’ light- Printed with vegetable inks on paper armoured combat vehicles (LAVs), one of which is pictured on the cover, to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, with recycled content. the force that deals with internal threats to the ruling regime.

Funded by the Government The Ploughshares Monitor, the quarterly publication of Project Ploughshares, of Canada is available online at www.ploughshares.ca. From the Director’s desk: Canada’s ATT legislation: A loophole you could drive a tank through

By Cesar Jaramillo

or years Project Ploughshares ous delay, Canada announced that common to the standards applied to has had deep concerns about it would accede to the Arms Trade others. Fthe arrangement under which Treaty (ATT). We dared to hope that Besides the obvious economic Canada exports military goods to the process of legislative and regula- benefits to Canada’s arms manufac- the United States. This arrangement, tory changes required for Canada to turing industry, Ottawa’s position which has long exempted the United become a state party to the Treaty seems to be founded on blind trust States from licensing and reporting would quell our concerns about U.S.- in the United States. Not only is the requirements applicable to every bound exports. It has now become assumption of trustworthiness debat- other destination, undermines oft- clear that we were wrong. able, it is not even relevant. The ATT repeated claims from successive gov- Canada’s intent to join the ATT is most definitely not a trust-based ernments about the strength of Can- has made questions about the com- regime—it is a binding legal instru- ada’s military export controls regime. patibility of exemptions with the ment with unambiguous obligations, As stated in the annual Report on expectations and promises of greater including an obligation to issue re- Exports of Military Goods from Can- rigour and transparency around ports on ALL military exports. ada, “due to close and long-standing military exports more pressing. But military cooperation with the United those looking for answers in the draft A customer like no other States, including the integrated na- ATT legislation recently tabled in the It is hard to see how Canadian ture of North America’s defence Canadian parliament will surely be exemptions could be compatible with industry, permit exemptions apply to dismayed. ATT obligations, regardless of the most Group 2 exports destined for Bill C-47, tabled by Minister of recipient. In the case of the United final use in that country. Statistics Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland on States, they are especially suspect. related to exports of military goods April 13, contains no provisions to Here’s why: and technology to the United States end the special exemptions afforded therefore are not reported here.” to the United States. Not only will • The United States is, by far, To be sure, Canada does not enjoy the preservation of such a loophole the largest recipient of Can- the same latitude it affords its south- be considered highly problematic by adian military goods, year ern neighbour. Military exports civil society, but other ATT states after year. Of course, we have from the United States to Canada parties may also question such special no exact figures because of are—and will likely continue to be— treatment. the reporting exemption, but subject to the more stringent regula- The ATT calls for the “highest analysts estimate that Canada tions of U.S. export controls. possible common international stan- exports military goods worth dards.” Yet the arrangement with the as much as $2-billion to the The hope of the ATT United States neither constitutes the United States annually—more In June 2016, after a highly conspicu- highest possible standard nor is it than half of total military

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

exports. So even after Canada tirely consistent with the pro- left in place precisely the type of joins the Arms Trade Treaty, visions of the treaty, including scenario that not only runs contrary the majority of all Canadian those related to licensing and to the spirit and objective of the military exports will not be reporting obligations. More- Treaty, but also could set a troubling reported and will thus be over, a widely shared goal international precedent. If more and shielded from public opinion is the universal adoption of more countries set up bilateral spe- and scrutiny. the ATT, but it is hard to see cial arrangements instead of com- how Canada will contribute to mon standards, the ATT regime will • Canada considers the United that objective when it offers be gradually but effectively weak- States the end-user of Can- laxer conditions to a non-state ened. adian-made military goods party than it does to those Bill C-47 does put Canada one and components—and it is, states that have agreed to be step closer to becoming a state for the most part. But the bound by the obligations of party—a goal that Project Plough- United States is also the lar- the treaty. shares, among many stakeholders at gest exporter of weapons home and abroad, has worked for. and military equipment in Falling on deaf ears It covers important issues that were the world. Some Canadian Following the announcement that known to require attention, such as components are incorporated Canada would accede to the Arms establishing controls over brokering into systems in the United Trade Treaty, Project Ploughshares, in military goods between two coun- States and then exported to Amnesty International Canada, Ox- tries outside of Canada. In this in- third parties. This does not fam Canada, and Oxfam Quebec stance, it will raise the regulatory bar. require further authorization jointly produced a detailed briefing Further, Bill C-47 creates a legal from Canada, even though that outlined key elements of Can- obligation for the Minister of For- recipients could be countries ada’s military export controls regime eign Affairs to consider certain as- to which Canada would not that require attention. This briefing sessment criteria before authorizing export military goods. For ex- was the basis for discussions with permits. However, while moving ample, Canada might impose Global Affairs Canada that attempted from the current guidelines to legal sanctions targeting a specific to support Canada’s effective imple- obligations is positive in principle, the state through the Special Eco- mentation of its Treaty obligations. value lies in the details of pending nomic Measures Act, which Specific recommendations included: regulations. Will these regulations does not fully align with the indicate clearly that export authoriza- U.S. sanctions regime. The • R4.1 Canada must amend its nations must be denied if certain fac- inverse situation—Canada’s tional control system to control tors are unfavorably assessed? Or will exporting U.S. military goods the transfer of ammunition and new regulations still allow the Minis- to a third party without prior parts and components to the ter to authorize permits as long as all authorization—would not be United States, which are current- factors are merely “considered”? allowed by the United States. ly exempt from regulation. Illicit and irresponsible transfers of conventional weapons are a sig- • The United States is not an • R5.1 Canada’s export regulations nificant factor in human suffering ATT state party, and is not must be adjusted so that export worldwide, fueling armed violence expected to become one in permit authorization applies to in all its forms. The ATT aims to the foreseeable future. While all Group 2 equipment shipped establish global standards for respon- the Obama administration to U.S. destinations, as it does for sible national decision-making on the did sign the ATT, the United all other states. Subcontracted transfer of conventional weapons. States has not ratified it and is shipments to the United States— If Canada becomes a state party not bound by its obligations. largely components and sub- to the ATT while preserving exemp- Canada, on the other hand, systems—must also be regulated. tions to the largest recipient of Can- will be a state party and the adian-made military goods, some may expectation is that all its arms Rather than heed these recom- applaud the accession—but there will export regulations will be en- mendations, Global Affairs Canada be no standing ovation. □

4 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 Arms and forced displacement The case of the Canada-Saudi Arabia arms deal

By Sonal Marwah

he world is experiencing the civilians and their communities, disrupting highest level of forced dis- and destroying livelihoods; denying access placement since World War to clean drinking water, food supplies, and II. According to the UN medicine; damaging vital infrastructure Refugee Agency (UNHCR that provides energy and other basic servi- 2016a),T approximately 34,000 people are ces; preventing the education of children; forcibly displaced daily by conflict and denying everyone a sense of safety. Some persecution. A trigger and driver of forced civilians are forced to flee their homes displacement is armed conflict, which and become refugees, but typically, many is fueled, prolonged, and made deadlier are either internally displaced or become by available, accessible weapons. And so trapped in zones of conflict, caught in the weapons control, and particularly control crossfire (OHCHR 1996-2017). Accord- of the international arms trade, becomes ing to the UNHCR (2016a), in 2015 there a key to the resolution and restriction of were an estimated 21.3-million refugees conflict and, thus, of displacement. Civil and 40.8-million internally displaced per- society and international humanitarian sons (IDPs). actors have been working tirelessly to en- Some of the worst human-rights vio- courage governments to adopt stricter and lations in conflict zones affect refugees, more robust arms export controls. IDPs, and civilians who are unable to In 2014, Saudi Arabia and Canada move to safety. Displaced persons are signed an arms deal valued at $14.8-bil- always under threat. Immediately before lion. This contract to provide the Saudis and during the displacement event, armed with weaponized armoured vehicles is still violence escalates and civilians are threat- going ahead, even though there is ample ened. Away from home, civilians can be damning evidence that Saudi Arabia vio- directly and indirectly affected by violence, lates the human rights of its own citizens facing harassment or forced recruitment. and has committed serious violations of And when they are either resettled or re- the laws of war in its involvement in the turn home, they are easy targets for armed conflict in Yemen, which has caused wide- criminals.1 The fundamental rights and spread death and displacement. basic entitlements of forcibly displaced Here we examine this arms deal persons are threatened at each stage by, through the lens of conflict-induced dis- among other things, the availability of placement. arms. Interstate and intrastate conflicts most When people are forced to flee often occur in developing regions, but Armed conflict disproportionately affects most of the arms in those conflicts are

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 5 FORCED MIGRATION

from developed countries. The United international migrants. States is the world’s largest arms exporter In 2014, Canada agreed to sell an un- and the largest exporter to developing disclosed number of General Dynamics states. Between 2008 and 2015, developing Land Systems’ light-armoured combat countries were the top arms purchasers vehicles (LAVs) to the Saudi Arabian Na- globally, with Saudi Arabia and India tak- tional Guard (SANG), the force that deals ing the lead (Theohary 2016, Summary). with internal threats to the ruling regime. In 2015, Canada was the second biggest While the deal is the largest advanced arms exporter to the Middle East, after military arms export contract in Canadian the United States (Chase 2016c). history (Balca 2016), Canada has a long As arms sales to the Middle East have history of exporting military equipment grown, so have volatile conflicts in the re- to Saudi Arabia and has continuously ex- gion, creating widespread regional instabil- ported LAVs to Saudi Arabia since 1992. ity. Conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen are In 2012, Canada exported goods worth triggering massive levels of displacement. more than $400-million to the Kingdom. By the end of 2015, the Middle East In 2014, Saudi Arabia was the top custom- was hosting roughly 23-million displaced er for Canadian military exports (28.2 per migrants (Connor 2016). Displacement cent of total); in 2015, Saudi Arabia was surged in 2011 with the conflict in Syria; the second-largest military export destina- since then, the Middle East has become tion (14.1 per cent) (GAC 2016c). (These the region with the fastest growing popu- figures exclude data related to exports to lation of forcibly displaced persons and the United States, which are exempt from

Figure 1: Canadian military exports to Saudi Arabia, 1992-2013*

$500,000,000

$400,000,000

$300,000,000

$200,000,000

$100,000,000

$0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

*in constant 2013 dollars (GAC 2016b/c, 2013. See also Annual Reports to Parliament for other years.)

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reporting requirements, but have historic- pedoes, rockets, vessels of war, and chem- ally amounted to over half of all Canadian ical or biological toxic agents (GAC 2016a, military exports in any given year.) Group 2). LAVs are versatile, useful in rural and Under the policy guidelines of the urban areas, and amphibious. They are Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA), deemed effective for crowd control. How Canada requires clear demonstration that they are used depends on how they are “there is no reasonable risk that the goods equipped. Global Affairs Canada (GAC), might be used against the civilian popula- which issues import and export licences, tion” (GAC 2016b, p. 3). Several observ- has provided no information about the ers, including Project Ploughshares, have lethality of the vehicles going to Saudi raised questions about the extent to which Arabia, but it is known that the export this requirement can be met in the context permit applications encompass not of the LAV deal. only the LAVs, but also their associated The current Liberal government has weapons systems (GAC 2016d, p. 3). approved 70 per cent of the export per- Whatever the gun configuration, the mits (Chase 2016a)—the final green light LAVs themselves fall under Group 2 of before shipments can commence. But a the Export Control List, which includes portion of the export licences still await above: In Yemen, internally military goods and technology that Can- authorization. displaced children stand outside their family tent after ada considers to be “specially designed or the family fled their home in modified for military use.” Other items in Human costs of weapons sales Saada province and found refuge in Darwin camp, in the this group include weapons or armament In the past, Saudis bought LAVs to defend northern province of Amran. with a calibre greater than 12.7 mm, tor- against possible attacks by either the Is- Yahya Arhab/UNHCR

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Ploughshares coverage of the arms deal with Saudi Arabia

Project Ploughshares has offered detailed analysis of the 2014 arms contract with Saudi Arabia. See, for example:

2017 Jaramillo, Cesar. Despite ruling, many questions on Saudi arms deal linger. The Globe and Mail, January 28.

2016 Jaramillo, Cesar. Ottawa cannot deny dangers of Saudi arms deal. Waterloo Region Record, July 16, A11. -----. Time to cancel the Saudi arms deal. Waterloo Region Record, April 20, A11. -----. The big, fat Saudi-arms-deal spin. Huffington Post, April 18. -----. Canada’s reputation takes a big hit. Waterloo Region Record, April 16, A11. -----. We can kiss Canada’s human rights credibility goodbye. The Globe and Mail, April 14. -----. Saudi arms deal isn’t a fait accompli. Waterloo Region Record, April 8, A9. -----. Trudeau could honour the Saudi arms deal—and not ship a single weapon. Huffington Post, March 22. -----. Why Ottawa’s justification of the Saudi deal is not enough. OpenCanada.org, February 17. -----. Trudeau’s handling of the Saudi arms deal will define his legacy.Huffington Post, February 2. -----. Canadians: Keep asking questions about our Saudi arms deal. The Globe and Mail, January 18. -----. Saudi deal will shape Canada’s character. Waterloo Region Record, January 13.

For more, go to the Ploughshares website, www.ploughshares.ca, and search, using the tag “Saudi Arabia.”

lamic State or Riyadh’s Shia Muslim rival, demonstrate the monarchy’s willingness Iran. But, given Saudi Arabia’s abysmal “to use such military assets against its own human rights record, critics have warned people” (Chase 2016b). that the LAVs could be used against However, there is evidence that, in Saudi citizens. At the beginning of last 2011, the Saudis did send Canadian-made year, for example, 47 people convicted LAVs into Bahrain to help quell democrat- of terrorism-related offences, including ic protests (Ceasefire.ca 2011). The Can- Shia Muslim cleric Sheik Nimr al-Nimr, adian government has not denied the in- were executed. Even the Government of cident, but suggested that the LAVs were Canada’s 2015 redacted review of human “to protect key building and infrastructure, rights in Saudi Arabia acknowledges the and did not engage in suppression of strong hold of the monarchy; deteriora- peaceful protests” (GAC 2016d). tion in regional security, including domes- Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has led tic threats; and specific human-rights chal- a coalition of Arab states (Qatar, Kuwait, lenges (Mas 2016). the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, In addition, there is evidence that the Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, and Senegal) in monarchy has made specific use of LAVs armed conflict against the Iran-backed to suppress political opposition. Accord- Houthi rebels of Yemen, in an attempt to ing to Ali Adubisi of the Berlin-based restore the ousted Yemeni government. European-Saudi Organization for Hu- The Houthis are a Zaidi Shia group from man Rights, Saudi authorities deployed northern Yemen, also known as Ansar armoured vehicles against Shia civilians Allah, which took control of Yemen’s in Eastern Province more than 15 times capital, Sanaa. By the end of 2015, more between 2011 and mid-2016 (Chase than 2.5-million Yemeni civilians had 2016b). While the country of origin of been displaced (IDMC 2017) and 120,000 these vehicles is not clear, these incidents had sought asylum in other countries, in-

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Guidelines for Canada’s export-control regulations (GAC 2013)

Under current export control policy guidelines mandated by Cabinet, Canada closely controls the export of military goods and technology to countries:

• that pose a threat to Canada and its allies;that are involved in or under imminent threat of hostilities; • that are under United Nations Security Council sanctions; • whose governments have a persistent record of serious violations of the human rights of their citizens, unless it can be demonstrated that there is no reasonable risk that the goods might be used against the civilian population.

cluding Djibouti and Somalia (UNHCR then were forced to flee the raging con- 2016b). Since the conflict began, more flict in Yemen and were headed to Sudan. than 10,000 have died. While no one claimed responsibility for The scale of the destruction has trig- the attack, only the Saudi-led coalition is gered a humanitarian catastrophe in believed to have U.S.-manufactured mil- Yemen, the poorest of the Gulf countries. itary aircraft (HRW 2017). Both sides in the conflict have been ac- cused of intentionally targeting civilians, Tackling conflict-induced displacement in violation of international humanitar- The leader of the United Kingdom’s ian law (IHL). The Houthi combatants Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, has called are positioned in residential areas, and for an immediate inquiry into violation Sonal Marwah is a Program coalition airstrikes on rebel strongholds of the laws of war by the coalition and a Officer with have caused extensive damage to civilian suspension of UK arms transfers to Saudi Project property. A UN Panel of Experts2 found Arabia, pending its outcome. The govern- Ploughshares. that the Saudi-led bombing campaign had ments of the United Kingdom and the involved “widespread and systematic” at- United States have been repeatedly warned tacks on civilian targets, including refugee by humanitarian organizations to halt arms [email protected] and IDP camps, civilian gatherings, med- deliveries to Saudi Arabia and other coali- ical facilities, education centres, and food tion members. The European Parliament storage warehouses (MacAskill 2016). The has voted for an embargo on arms sales to coalition has targeted the cities of Sa’dah the Saudi kingdom, citing the “disastrous and Maran in their entirety, in violation humanitarian situation” resulting from the of the principles of distinction, propor- military intervention in Yemen (Rankin tionality, and precaution in war (MacAskill 2016). Organizations, including Human 2016). Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Where can political dissidents of the are also condemning Iran, amid reports Saudi monarchy flee? What refuge is there that Iran is stepping up its arms supplies for displaced Yemenis? The Middle East is to the Houthi rebels (Saul, Hafezi & Geor- already hosting a huge number of refugees gy 2017). and IDPs. And if refuge exists, how are those fleeing conflict to get there safely? What can Canada do? In March, a boat off the coast of Yemen, Accede to the Arms Trade Treaty carrying 145 refugees, was fired upon by Canada is currently the only member an Apache helicopter. At least 32 were of the G7 group of industrialized nations killed. Most of the boat’s occupants were and of the 28-member North Atlantic Somalis who had first fled to Yemen and Treaty Organization that has neither

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 9 FORCED MIGRATION

signed nor ratified the Arms Trade Treaty cisions to grant export licences are made. (ATT), a multilateral treaty that regulates And Canada must develop an effective the international trade in conventional means to monitor Saudi use of Canadian- arms, from small arms to battle tanks, manufactured LAVs, inside and outside its combat aircraft, and warships—includ- borders. ing the type of LAVs at the centre of the In practical terms, joining the ATT Saudi arms deal. The ATT seeks to direct- should make it a lot more difficult for ly and indirectly reduce human suffering Canada to make arms deals with countries by targeting the unregulated and irrespon- with poor human rights records and auto- sible trade in conventional weapons that cratic regimes, including Saudi Arabia and fuels armed conflict, enables human-rights Algeria. In 2015, these two countries were violations, and sustains autocratic regimes. on the list of the top seven destinations The ATT entered into force in Decem- for Canadian military goods (GAC 2016c, ber 2014 and the treaty forms part of the p. 12). body of international law. Canada is sending mixed messages by On April 13, Canada’s Minister of acceding to the ATT while proceeding Foreign Affairs tabled legislation that will with the Saudi arms deal. The Memoran- enable Canada to become a State Party to dum for Action, labelled “secret,” which the ATT. presented the analysis consulted by the Canada’s decision to accede to the ATT Foreign Affairs Minister before author- is a step in the right direction and is to be izing the export licence, clearly highlights commended. But it’s not enough. And it’s concern for human rights in Saudi Arabia not enough for Canada to claim, as it does, and the airstrikes by the Saudi-led coali- that it has some of the strictest arms con- tion in Yemen (GAC 2016d). This report trol regulations on the books. Needed are was released by the Justice Department more robust and transparent regulations only after a lawsuit filed in federal court that will entail close adherence to ATT challenged the arms sale. It is worth not- criteria and meet its legal requirements. ing that the release of the memorandum is Canada must start requiring export per- the first-ever release of such a document mit authorizations for all arms exports to by GAC. In the future, there needs to be the United States, as it does for all other greater transparency and access to such states. Under current bilateral arrange- information. ments, not only is the United States ex- It is also important to note that the empt from export licensing requirements, contract was concluded at a time when but there is no reporting provided on there were growing calls for arms-export- Canadian military exports to that coun- ing countries to end arms sales to Saudi try—even though it is the largest recipient Arabia and to have the Saudi government of Canadian military goods. There is no account for events in Yemen and for indication that this will change follow- serious human-rights violations at home. ing accession to the ATT. However, the Canada’s proceeding with the arms deal ATT does not provide for such regulatory raises unsettling questions about its com- exemptions. Moreover, accurate estima- mitment to human rights and its regulations of the value of Canadian military tory regime for arms exports. exports would require the same type of re- Canada needs to uphold the spirit of porting on military exports to the United the ATT to build a more transparent States as for other countries. global arms trade and build a norm that Stricter adherence to the ECL’s guide- strengthens responsible arms transfers. lines for granting licences to arms deals is The flow of new weapons to states -in needed. As well, there should be greater volved in the conflict will only worsen the transparency around how government de- humanitarian situation (ACA 2017).

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Support the Sustainable Development Goals for arms manufacturers at home. In the post-2015 development agenda, “By creating job dependency and profit there are 17 Sustainable Development on supplying weapons to an intolerant Goal (SDGs) with 169 Targets. SDG 16 regime, the government is linking basic links development to peace and security employment needs in Canada to the sup- and Target 16.4 focuses on the effects pression of basic rights elsewhere” (Epps of illicit arms flows to sustainable peace, 2014). security, and development. The government of Canada has expressed its commit- Support for ending impunity ment to support the SDGs. To implement Canada should support the call for an Goal 16, Canada must halt arms sales and independent and credible investigation of transfers to human-rights violators, even if claims of war crimes in Yemen by all par- such action impinges upon profitable deals ties to the conflict.□

Notes

1. This paragraph draws from the work of Dr. Robert Muggah, who is an expert on arms control and armed violence prevention. 2. It must be noted that the Panel members were not able to visit Yemen and did face challenges in compiling accurate and complete information for the report.

References

Arms Control Association. 2017. Arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain should be rejected. Issue Brief 9:3, May. Ceasefire.ca. 2011. Canadian-made armoured vehicles enter Bahrain, March 15. Chase, Steven. 2016a. Dion takes responsibility for pushing through Saudi arms deal. The Globe and Mail, April 18. -----. 2016b. Saudis use armoured vehicles to suppress internal dissent, videos show. The Globe and Mail, May 11. -----. 2016c. Canada now the second biggest arms exporter to Middle East, data show. The Globe and Mail, June 14. Connor, Phillip. 2016. Middle East’s migrant population more than doubles since 2005. Pew Research Center, October 18. Epps, Kenneth. 2014. Arms export win is human rights loss, The Ploughshares Monitor, Spring. Global Affairs Canada. 2016a. A Guide to Canada’s Export Controls. -----. 2016b. Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada 2014. -----. 2016c. Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada 2015. -----. 2016d. Memorandum for action: Export of light armoured vehicles and weapon systems to Saudi Arabia, March 21. -----. 2013. Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada 2007-2009. Helmore, Edward. 2016. US increased weapons sales in 2015 despite slight drop in global arms trade. The Guardian, December 26. Human Rights Watch. 2017. Yemen: Attack on refugee boat likely war crime. March 26. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. 2017. Yemen IDP Figures Analysis. MacAskill, Ewen. 2016. UN report into Saudi-led strikes in Yemen raises questions over UK role. The Guardian, January 27. Mas, Susana. 2016. Ottawa releases redacted report on human rights in Saudi Arabia. CBC News, April 15. Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (UN). 1996-2017. Questions and answers about IDPs. Rankin, Jennifer. 2016. EU parliament votes for embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The Guardian, February 25. Saul, Jonathan, Parisa Hafezi, and Michael Georgy. 2017. Exclusive: Iran steps up support for Houthis in Yemen’s war – sources. Reuters, March 22. Small Arms Survey. 2014. Producers of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Their Ammunition. No. 43, July. Theohary, Catherine A. 2016. Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2008-2015. Congressional Research Service, December 19. UNHCR. 2016a. Figures at a glance. -----. 2016b. UNHCR Yemen Factsheet – February 2016.

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 11 Q&A: In conversation with Geoffrey Duke

South Sudan’s troubled path to statehood

Interview conducted and edited by Cesar Jaramillo

n 2011, the Republic of South Cesar Jaramillo: Do you think the con- Sudan became the newest country flict has reached a critical stage? in the world when the southern Sudanese voted in a referendum Geoffrey Duke: The situation in South to split from the largely Arab Sudan has been in a state of steady decline Inorth. For many years before that, Project since the outbreak of the war in 2013. Ploughshares was involved in efforts to This decline is manifest in all main sectors; end a long civil war in Sudan and to foster security, the economy, and access to basic peacebuilding, including direct field work services. With the trend of events of the in and around Juba, now the capital of recent past, and no decisive action to re- South Sudan, and liaising with the Sudan- verse the trends, the situation will certainly ese diaspora in Canada. continue to deteriorate. But peace was short-lived in South There are three main reasons why. First Sudan and recent press coverage indi- is the breakdown of the Peace Deal signed cates that civil war now threatens immin- in August 2015 and the absence of a polit- ent catastrophe. Details can be found in ical process to shift the political crisis from the Armed Conflicts Report on the Project military to the sphere of genuine dialogue Ploughshares website. and non-violent politics. Ploughshares executive director Cesar Second is the emergence of new armed Jaramillo recently connected with Geof- groups, from a single armed opposition frey Duke, Head of Secretariat at South group in 2013 to over five different Sudan Action Network on Small Arms rebel movements now, with the latest an- (SSANSA) to learn more about the most nounced barely two months ago. This pressing challenges for South Sudan. proliferation of armed group points to a surge in the scale of hostilities, which in

12 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 SOUTH SUDAN

turn fuels the alarming displacement of begin with areas hit by the recently an- citizens. nounced famine. However, equally im- The third reason is the continued flow portant emphasis needs to be given to of arms from around the world into South areas that are not easily accessible, either Sudan. The arms are the fuel to the fire because access is restricted by the warring that has already devastated South Sudan parties or due to lack of roads. and risks pulling the country further down On political assistance, I would say the toward total anarchy. support needed so much is mainly non- financial. It is the engagement to cultivate CJ: Famine has been declared in parts of the necessary political will from the lead- South Sudan, affecting millions, with as ers of the various armed and non-armed many as 100,000 people at immediate risk opposition groups to set aside military of starvation. Tens of thousands have actions and embark on genuine inclusive been killed. More than 1.5-million are in- political dialogue to resolve the conflict. ternally displaced, and nearly 2-million are Of course, financial support will be re- seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. quired to facilitate the political process How would you assess the response of the once it is under way. international community? CJ: UNMISS [United Nations Mission in GD: Since the outbreak of the war, we the Republic of South Sudan] has been have seen millions of dollars in humani- deployed in South Sudan since 2011. How tarian aid flow into South Sudan from a effective has it been? Do you have any number of countries to help the people thoughts on potential changes to the mis- of South Sudan. Hence, the efforts of the sion? What sort of peacekeeping mission international community should definitely do the circumstances call for? be appreciated. However, the humanitarian aid dwarfs the current level of humani- GD: I think how well UNMISS has per- tarian needs. Clearly, more resources are formed can be assessed from its track needed. record of protecting civilians both inside Sadly, as some countries send in hu- and outside the camps. Civilians have manitarian aid, others are busy supplying been killed and women raped just outside the weapons that fuel the violence, creat- UN camps without meaningful measures ing the humanitarian crisis. I would say taken by the peacekeeping forces. It is that the same international community is even difficult to assert that civilians in the supplying arms with one hand and provid- UN camps are safe. We have seen armed ing assistance with the other hand. These groups launch attacks and kill civilians conflicting efforts are not only self-defeat- who are in these UN camps. So there is an ing, but also contribute to sustaining the element of a false sense of security on the civil war. This requires harmonization of side of civilians. policies aiming at humanitarian assistance It is important to note, though, that and those on political processes to end the peacekeeping forces have successfully con- civil war. fronted, with necessary force, numerous threats posed by armed groups to civilians CJ: Which areas should be the top prior- in the UN camps. A useful question to ities for international assistance? ask is: what would have happened to the thousands if they had not taken refuge in GD: I would classify international assist- the UN camps? I would say that much as ance to two areas, namely humanitarian there are flaws in efforts to protect civil- and political. On humanitarian assistance, ians, peacekeepers are still relevant in the in my view, priority definitely needs to current situation in South Sudan. Never-

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 13 SOUTH SUDAN

left: Citizens celebrate in the streets as the Republic of South Sudan proclaims its independence in July 2011. Tim McKulka/UN

theless, we can all agree that South Sudan other South Sudanese out there who have needs a form of peacekeeping that will grievances and deserve to participate in make civilians feel safe both in and outside shaping the future of South Sudan. And the UN camps. the people of South Sudan have yet to discuss the principles and values upon which CJ: The 2015 Peace Agreement to end the South Sudan shall be founded. civil war was short-lived. Are you hopeful Inclusive nationwide dialogues are about the prospects for a cessation or sig- needed to agree on the important issues nificant reduction of armed violence? of power sharing among citizens of different regions and communities—and GD: The main issue here is not a mat- not only those with guns. There are other ter of sharing the power among those issues, such as system of governance and who are fighting. Many South Sudanese resource sharing. These are all too import- can pick up arms as well, if getting the ant to leave to those that are armed to de- national cake is all about picking up arms cide alone. But certainly, political accom- and starting a fight. Accommodation has modation is not the ultimate solution. Nei- been a largely failed policy of Juba since ther is buying-off political opponents, but the pre-independence of South Sudan. rather a clear and binding legal formula for Several armed groups emerged following inclusive and legitimate politics. the 2010 general elections with various motivations. An open-ended amnesty and CJ: The country is awash in small arms accommodation of these armed groups and light weapons. How significant an ob- by Juba since then begun to establish a stacle are they to peacebuilding? dangerous precedent. A precedent that if a group of persons has grievances or wants GD: From communities that rise up government positions, and they pick up against each other in enduring cycles of arms, Juba will negotiate with them and violence and cattle rustling to the resolu- offer them some wealth and employment. tion of interpersonal disputes, thuggery, That is the same mindset sustaining the and crimes, the manifestations of the military approach to interacting with the small arms problem in South Sudan are government. clear. The point is, there are thousands of The high proliferation of arms has a

14 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 SOUTH SUDAN

direct impact on the security and safety of ATT will not only be an arms control re- the people. The inability of the govern- gime of the future, but a relevant current ment to protect the vast majority of cit- tool for saving lives. izens undermines efforts to remove arms from the hands of citizens. Coupled with CJ: Food security is an immediate chal- a weak justice sector, the legitimacy of the lenge. Can this be achieved in the absence state is undermined, as it cannot establish of a ceasefire or peace agreement? What a meaningful level of monopoly over the immediate steps could the international use of legitimate force. community take? With no justice system that makes it Cesar Jaramillo is costly to misuse arms, and the state unable GD: No doubt, without a ceasefire that the Executive to provide security to its citizens, arms will is respected by all armed groups in South Director remain a big obstacle to peacebuilding. Sudan, it is impossible to address the of Project Ploughshares. Some would say the solution lies in famine that has been recently declared. establishing the rule of law to render On that note, achieving an immediate na- arms possession by civilians unnecessary. tionwide cessation of hostilities is the first Others would argue that civilians need to step, not only for addressing the problem [email protected] be disarmed and the government should of food insecurity, but to restore a peace meaningfully establish control of the pos- process to resolve the political crisis. session and use of small arms in the coun- The international community needs to try to achieve rule of law and security. get tougher on securing a ceasefire and However, I would argue the solution lies outlining the range of consequences viola- in meticulously pursuing the two tracks tions of ceasefire would attract. Without simultaneously. stern measures for violations, the parties will continue to sign and break agreements CJ: Can the Arms Trade Treaty make a at will, while bloodshed continues and positive contribution to stemming the flow suffering of people rises. of arms? CJ: The plight of refugees and internally GD: The ATT has the potential to curb displaced persons in South Sudan is inten- arms flows to conflict situations such as sifying, yet global attention seems primar- South Sudan. However, so far, we haven’t ily focused on Syria. What do you make of seen states use the treaty to make that hap- that? pen. The focus has been on universaliza- tion and ensuring compliance of states GD: South Sudan currently is the world’s parties and signatory states. leading producer of refugees. About Unfortunately, most arms flowing to 1.2-million refugees fled the country, with South Sudan are from countries that have Uganda hosting over 800,000 and continu- neither ratified nor signed the treaty. The ing to welcome thousands every week. question here is, will the ATT member Constituting a global test and Africa’s states sit and watch other countries sup- worst humanitarian crisis since the Rwan- ply arms to conflict zones or will they dan genocide of 1994, this trend deserves actively engage non-members to apply the to top global conversations about solu- principles of the treaty in their transfers tions to the refugee question. of arms for use in current crises such as However, it is not surprising that that South Sudan, Yemen, and Syria? is not the case. Looking at it using the I would say there is a need to establish lens of securitization, it is partly because some diplomatic engagement mechanism refugees from South Sudan are not fleeing to urge non-member states to stop supply- in large numbers to Europe or America. ing arms to high-risk areas. That way the In addition, it could be because Uganda

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 15 SOUTH SUDAN

does not see them essentially as a security infamous events, the situation is improv- threat. ing. This depicts the conflict as a bunch of events rather than a process that deserves CJ: Was South Sudan ready for statehood consistent coverage and untangling. in 2011? What could have been done dif- ferently? CJ: How did you become involved in advocacy for peace in South Sudan? Do GD: Those who argue that South Sudan’s you know of any grassroots peace efforts birth was premature are missing the point. there? South Sudan was more than ripe for the birth of statehood. The overwhelming GD: I was born in civil war, grew up in majority vote for independence is the most civil war and now, still experiencing a civil precise and authoritative indication that war. I have no greater motivation than the people have chosen their destiny of the obligation this lays on me to make my independence. country livable for my fellow citizens and The main issue around the birth of myself. this country that connects to the current crisis was the lack of a basic consensus CJ: You were recently threatened with vio- on what should follow the birth—and not lence. What happened? only within the ruling party. Citizens nationwide were not given an opportunity to GD: Indeed, I came under a car-jacking establish a social contract and decide on a attack last year in February. I had a loaded national vision for the country. gun pointed at my head by robbers. Seated So, after the dust of euphoria and ex- there impotent waiting for the two robbers uberance of independence settled in 2011, to decide whether to take my life and the the confusion over “what next” grew. That car or just the car. Fortunately, they took situation evolved into a dispute in the rul- the car and spared my life. Sadly, such inci- ing party, the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liber- dents are not uncommon in South Sudan. ation Movement], over which direction to With the dire economic situation and the lead the country. We saw individual party focus of state efforts and resources shifted members—especially from the political from citizens’ security to fighting a war, bureau—claiming to possess a vision for an environment of insecurity and lawless- the country. It was the failure of the ruling ness is created. Such an environment is party to peacefully resolve this dispute that not only suitable for breeding domestic consequently led to the outbreak of the criminality, but could also easily create safe civil war in 2013. havens for transnational organized crime.

CJ: What are your general impressions CJ: Is there hope for South Sudan as a vi- of the media coverage of the situation in able nation? South Sudan? GD: There is hope, but these hopes are GD: In my view, the media coverage is held hostage by the persistent violence. generally focused on reporting about The real hope lies in recognizing that a atrocities and less on the complex political significant minority of South Sudanese is issues surrounding the conflict. One of the perpetuating the violence. The majority implications of such reporting is that, for of the population is against the prevalent South Sudan to be on the news, there has bloodshed and the constant decline. The to be a horrendous event that can compare world should stand together with the un- to other crises such as Syria, Yemen, and armed majority to put the country on the Iraq. It also gives a sense that between these path of peace and security and stability. □

16 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 Behind the scenes with Project Ploughshares The Space Security Index

By Jessica West

n early May, Project Ploughshares, in cooperation with the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University and our partners on the Space Security Index (SSI) Iproject, hosted the 14th annual Space Se- curity Working Group (SSWG) meeting in Montreal. SSI aims to serve as a source of accurate information and current analysis on human activities in outer space. We hope that publishing our research findings each year will enable capacity building and support trust, transparency, and dialogue among global policymakers as they work Ploughshares has been engaged for a to enhance the safe, sustainable, and dozen years. The process itself is also secure use of outer space for all users. impactful. And the Space Security Work- The annual Space Security Index volume, ing Group meeting is at its heart. available in hard and electronic versions, distills and organizes open-access infor- Seasoned experts meet budding mation on how global actors are using scholars space, the effects of these activities on The draft SSI report is researched and the space environment, the development written by university students operating of new technologies, and governance ef- out of three centres: the Institute of Air forts to maintain outer space as a peace- and Space Law at McGill University, the ful domain. This is important work that Space Policy Institute at The George no one else is doing. Washington University in Washington, But the product of the research is D.C., and the Research Unit for Military not the only significant outcome of Law and Ethics at The University of this annual process, in which Project Adelaide in Australia. During the winter

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 17 SPACE SECURITY INDEX

18 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 SPACE SECURITY INDEX

term, they have toiled away on various an opportunity to collectively reflect on sections of the report and submitted the nature of changes taking place in the their work to Jessica West at Project use of outer space, and to enter into de- Ploughshares, the SSI’s operating hub. bates on what some of the most pressing Here the draft sections are checked, governance challenges are and how they analyzed, edited, and organized, in might be addressed. preparation for the May meeting. Our student researchers could be The primary function of the SSWG is among the next generation of leaders to bring together some of the student re- who work to preserve the secure and sus- searchers with space experts from around tainable use of space. This project helps the world, who review the work to date them to develop research, analytical, and guide revisions. This year, about 30 and writing skills. It lets them see the participants assembled in Montreal. We importance of the safety, security, and were honoured to work with David Ken- sustainability of outer space to their own dall, the current Canadian Chair of the lives and the lives of everyone on Earth. UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of And, for those who were able to attend Outer Space (COPUOS); Jonathan Mc- the May meeting, it puts them in close Dowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian communication with global leaders and Center for Astrophysics; Sanat Kaul experts. Jessica West from the International Foundation for is a Program Aviation, Aerospace, and Development Public engagement Officer with Project in India; Steven Freeland from Western This year, as in several past years, we also Ploughshares. Sydney University in Australia; and Karl hosted a public event. Sponsored by the Doetsch from Athena Global. Key civil Institute of Air and Space Law, this year’s society experts included Laura Grego panel focused on the 50th anniversary of from the Union of Concerned Scien- the Outer Space Treaty and the future [email protected] tists, Brian Weeden from Secure World of space governance. On the panel were Foundation, and Jana Robinson from the Canada’s former Ambassador to the UN Prague Security Studies Institute. Conference on Disarmament Paul Meyer, The review process is critical to the Melissa de Zwart of The University of production of a useful, accurate publica- Adelaide, Laura Grego, and David Ken- tion that will appear in a few months’ dall. In a field in which reality increas- time. But there are other significant out- ingly resembles science fiction, conver- comes from the two-day event. The con- sations with the audience touched on a versations that take place build the kind range of challenges from arms control in of relationships that are critical to peace outer space to the future of space mining and security in the global environment regulations and visions for human settle- that is outer space. Experts dialogue with ments in outer space. others from different fields of expertise The research team is now equipped and different countries and agree on a set with new facts, sources, and insights that of facts to describe key developments in will be used to create a more accurate opposite: The Space outer space. and useful publication. All participants Security Working Group hosted a public panel that The meeting is held under the Chat- also came away with a greater sense of included Melissa de Zwart ham House Rule, which means that com- the urgency of our efforts, the import- from the University of Adelaide; David Kendall, the ments can be used to improve the infor- ance of open and transparent dialogue, Canadian Chair of the UN mation provided in the annual report, and an appreciation of the many people Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space; Laura but cannot be attributed to any person around the world who are committed to Grego, Union of Concerned or institution. This rule creates a safe en- maintaining outer space as a peaceful, Scientists; and Ambassador Paul Meyer (retired), The vironment to discuss issues openly. Con- global commons for the benefit of all Simons Foundation. versations around the table also provide humanity. □ Photo: Dale Stephens

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 19 Canadian peacebuilders To commemorate Canada’s 150th annivesary, The Ploughshares Monitor is launching a series that will focus on Canadian men and women who have devoted their lives to the pursuit of peace.

The determined optimist: Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C.

On December 14, 2016, these words of Douglas Roche appeared in the Edmonton Journal: It’s hard to think of a year in recent times when the world was in such disarray and people felt so fearful about the future. Christmas is supposed to rejuvenate us and revive our hope for peace, but Christmas 2016 seems to have an uphill climb.

Is it possible to hope for a peaceful world when mass shootings and acts of terrorism dominate the media, when refugees stream out of war zones and de-stabilize world politics, when 21st century cyberwarfare is underway, when global warming is producing extreme weather patterns and crop failures, when governments refuse to empower the United Nations to enforce peace? My answer is yes.

Recently, Doug—Officer of the Order of Canada, former Member of the Canadian Parliament and Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament and Canadian Senator—circulated a brief piece of perhaps wishful thinking among some of his colleagues in the peace network. We thought that his imagined scenario—of something that has NOT happened, but could and, indeed, must—deserved a wider audience.

In the following fictionalized—and idealized—account we can clearly see all the steps that Doug believes are necessary to achieve nuclear abolition.

The next question is: How can we make this dream a reality?

20 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 CANADIAN PEACEBUILDERS

Return to Reykjavík

United States-Russia Pledge end of Nuclear Weapons

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today told the UN Security Council that U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a Summit in Reykjavík to start a new process to eliminate all nuclear weapons. Although the Security Council meeting was called to deal with the North Korea nuclear weapons crisis, Mr. Tillerson said at the outset of his remarks: “My government fully understands that there can be no successful resolution of regional nuclear weapons problems unless a global solution is implemented. In secret phone calls over the past ten days, President Trump and President Putin have decided to abandon the step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament, which has proven over the past thirty years to be ineffective, and start work immediately to build a global legal regime that will prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons everywhere. President Trump has authorized me to tell this august body: ‘A nuclear weapons- free world will be a great world.’” Mr. Tillerson added that both leaders were inspired by the action of their predecessors, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, in a summit in Reykjavík in 1986, where they nearly came to an agreement to eliminate nuclear arsenals. “This time, we will not allow nuclear negotiations to be derailed by the claims that missile defence systems must be permitted. We have learned that missile defence systems drive the development of new nuclear weapons. Our goal is now the elimination of both nuclear weapons and missile defence systems.” At this point in his remarks, Mr. Tillerson was interrupted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who expressed unhappiness at the U.S. announcement because President Putin wanted to make it himself at a meeting of the Russian Supreme Council later in the day. Mr. Lavrov said: “Russia will not be second to anyone in pledging our utmost endeavours to rid the world of nuclear weapons, which, as everyone knows, has been President Putin’s goal ever since he assumed office. Since the United States has peremptorily announced the Reykjavík Summit, I will go one step further and confirm that one week later, Russia will convene a meeting in Geneva of all the nuclear-weapons states for the express purpose of developing a comprehensive global plan to guarantee mutual, assured, and verifiable nuclear disarmament.” Mr. Lavrov added that Presidents Putin and Trump had already agreed to triple their contributions to the International Atomic Energy Agency to enable it to carry out detailed verification inspections in all nuclear weapons countries. This money will be obtained by ceasing the current nuclear modernization programs. “The amount of money the nuclear states can now divert to building the structures of peace is staggering,” Mr. Lavrov said. Sensing the tension between Mr. Tillerson and Mr. Lavrov about which country could do more for nuclear disarmament, UN Secretary-General António Guterres took the floor and, in rapid succession, drew from the Ambassadors of China, the United Kingdom, and France political and financial commitments to build a global regime to enforce nuclear disarmament. The Secretary-General said: “I feel it important to reveal to the Council that I anticipated the remarkable leadership just shown by the United States and Russia, the major possessors of nuclear weapons, and took it upon myself to obtain the commitments of India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea—the remaining nuclear powers—that they will enthusiastically join in the development of a global regime.” Suddenly, the hands of several Middle Eastern ambassadors shot in the air. “You have forgotten one thing,” the Ambassador of Egypt said, “we will not be denied our right to hold a special conference on the Elimination of Nuclear and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East. I want to announce that Israel has agreed to attend the conference and we want it held immediately, as originally planned, in Finland. Thereupon, a chorus of voices broke out, calling “Action Now!” But other voices could be heard muttering: “We don’t need regional meetings, we want a global regime.” Mr. Tillerson, chairing the meeting, called for order. “Distinguished delegates,” he said, “all countries and the highly informed representatives of civil society must work together in an orderly way to build a world of common security. Regional disarmament must give way to global disarmament. No country has a right to dominate another.” Then he stopped. His eye had caught the eye of the Austrian ambassador, holding his country’s name card in his hand, and Mr. Tillerson remembered that the nuclear Ban Treaty negotiations were already under way. The U.S. Secretary of State said: “Mr. Ambassador, do you wish to speak?” The Austrian Ambassador looked over at his colleagues from Ireland and Mexico, and said: “Mr. Chairman, I do not believe it is necessary for me to speak at this time. Events are unfolding.”

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 21 CANADIAN PEACEBUILDERS

Rt. Honourable Justin Trudeau Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, May 8, 2017

Re: Canadian Leadership and Action on Nuclear Disarmament Urgently Needed

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the more than one hundred undersigned, all having been honoured by appointment to the Order of Canada, appeal to you and your Govern- ment to give urgent attention and leadership to re-energizing nuclear disarmament in the face of mounting nuclear dangers. Any such efforts will win the overwhelming support of Canadians.

ESCALATING NUCLEAR PERIL The world has entered its most dangerous nuclear moment since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. As former US Defense Secretary William Perry has concluded, “The likelihood of a nuclear catastrophe today is greater than it was during the Cold War.” North Korea’s violations of its Security Council obligations and its irresponsible nuclear attack threats are now matched by reckless counter- threats; the world’s disarmament machinery suffers from a severe loss of confidence; the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has failed to deliver on its promise of abolition; the arsenals of the major powers are being “modernized” instead of dismantled; NATO, including its non-nuclear weapons members, continues to embrace nuclear deterrence; the risk of deliberate nuclear weapons use is compounded by the growing dangers of miscalcula- tion and accidental nuclear attacks. Ban Ki-moon, recently retired as UN Secretary-General, calls the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula “truly frightening,” and warns that “the world is moving closer to nuclear annihilation.”

REMEMBERING HUMANITY In their famous 1955 manifesto, Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell called on us to “remember our humanity and forget the rest,” so in that humanitarian spirit, we call on your government to: • Lead an urgent call to end provocative rhetoric and sabre rattling over North Korea in favour of a return to sustained engagement and negotiations in pursuit of a denuclearized Korean peninsula. • Urge the US and Russia to publicly reaffirm and act on their “unequivocal undertaking,” as agreed at the 2010 NPT Review Conference, “to accom- plish, in accordance with the principle of irreversibility, the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.” • Respect and support multilateral efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons by ending Canada’s boycott of the current UN General Assembly negotiations of a treaty to ban all nuclear weapons and by joining the next session of talks (scheduled for June 15 to July 7, 2017).

A MATTER OF URGENCY A 2010 unanimous Parliamentary motion urged the government of Canada to “deploy a major world-wide Canadian diplomatic initiative” in support of nuclear disarmament. Now, in this time of heightened nuclear peril, we urge your Government to take up that challenge and do all it can to convert the vision of a world without nuclear weapons into reality.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Acker, CM Michael Dence, OC Harold Kalant, CM Maurice McGregor, OC Nancy Ruth, CM Bruce Aikenhead, OC Stephen Drance, OC Bruce Kidd, OC Don McKay, OC Ezra Schabas, CM Lloyd Axworthy, CC Howard Dyck, CM Bonnie Klein, OC John McKellar, CM Jack Shapiro, CM Tom Axworthy, OC Pat Ferns, CM Michael Klein, CM Jonathan Meakins, OC Michael Shenstone, CM Christopher Barnes, CM Yves Fortier, CC Lucia Kowaluk, CM John Meisel, CC David Silcox, CM Gerry Barr, CM Ken Fyke, CM Ken Kramer, CM Ann Mortifee, CM Jennifer Simons, CM Michel Bastarache, CC Bob Glossop, CM Marcel Kretz, CM Jock Murray, OC Ian Smillie, CM Paul Beeston, CM Anthony Graham, CM Eva Kushner, OC Peter Newbery, OC Rosemary Sullivan, OC Monique Bégin, OC Clarence Guenter, CM Patrick Lane, OC John O’Donnell, CM Veronica Tennant, CC Tony Belcourt, OC Buzz Hargrove, OC John Last, OC Maureen O’Neil, OC Linda Thom, CM Avie Bennett, CC Judith Hall, OC Dennis Lee, OC James Orbinski, OC Murray Thomson, OC Robin Boadway, OC Brian Haynes, OC Rita Letendre, OC Bridglal Pachai, CM Setsuko Thurlow, OC Ed Broadbent, CC Gerry Helleiner, OC Jacques Levesque, CM Landon Pearson, OC Jane Urquhart, OC Tim Brodhead, OC Charles Hill, CM Barbara S. Lollar, CC Gordon Perkin, OC Tony Urquhart, OC Elaine Carty, CM Margaret Hilson, OC Roy MacGregor, OC John Polanyi, CC Michel Vennat, OC Paul Copeland, CM Catherine Hooper, CM Garfield Mahood, OC Alfred H. E. Popp, CM John Wada, OC Gisèle Côté-Harper, OC Laurent Isabelle, CM Leon Major, CM Alison Prentice, CM James Walker, CM Anne Crocker, CM Dan Ish, OC Joe Mancini, CM Valerie Pringle, CM Douglas Ward, CM David Cronenberg, CC Richard W. Ivey, CM Stephanie Mancini, CM Gordon Rankin, OC Anne H. Wieler, CM Libby Davies, CM Jon Jennekens, OC David Matas, OC Ernie Regehr, OC Blossom Wigdor, CM Thomas De Koninck CM Sven Johansson, CM Elizabeth May, OC Douglas Roche, OC Lois Wilson, CC

22 The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 CANADIAN PEACEBUILDERS

In memoriam Ann Strauss Gertler

nn Gertler was 94 when she died at the end of April. In the newspaper notice of her death, she was charac- terized as a “determined and passionate advocate for peace, abolition of war and nuclear weapons, tireless Apromoter of international solutions especially through the UN, consultant to government delegations and peace organizations in Canada and internationally.… Ann worked alongside Muriel Duckworth, Nancy Pocock, Kay McPherson, Simone Monet Chartrand, Murray Thomson, Diana Wright, Ursula Franklin, Douglas Roche, Jeanne Sauvé and many others against war and for sane foreign policy.”

Ann was active with Project Ploughshares. For years she was the Ploughshares representative at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. She was involved in the local Ploughshares group in Montreal. Her Ploughshares colleagues remember her with gratitude and respect:

From Ploughshares co-founder Ernie Regehr: Ann was for many years a member of the Board of Project Ploughshares—a deeply committed, energetic advocate for another way. Of course, that was but one of the many places and contexts in which her voice was influential and her example inspirational.

From Bev Delong, member of Ploughshares Calgary: Ann Gertler was a wonderful influence on my life. She encouraged me to join the Board of Project Ploughshares. I recall her calling for us to widen our goals beyond nuclear disarmament to abolition of war. I also recall Ann telling me that one of the proudest moments of her life was walking through the streets of New York City among the one- million-person march on July 12, 1982 held to encourage progress at the UN Second Session on Disarmament. I will miss her persistence, wisdom, and expertise!

From Phyllis Creighton, former member of the national Ploughshares Board: Ann was passionate, utterly committed to the vision that it’s time to abolish war. Persistent and stubborn, she made a real difference in many places, including the Voice of Women. Alive with ideas and eager to support others, she was also a good friend. Ann will long be remembered with gratitude and love.

From Debbie Grisdale, member of the Ploughshares Governing Committee: A wonderful and impassioned voice for peace and the abolition of war and nuclear weapons has gone silent—on Earth, anyway.

The Ploughshares Monitor | Summer 2017 23 Join our work to advance international peace and security by making a tax-deductible donation today.

Visit www.ploughshares.ca or call 519-888-6541.