In July 2024, researchers from the Asser Institute, in collaboration with Global Rights Compliance (GRC), submitted a joint stakeholder contribution ahead of the UN Working Group’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) concerning Italy’s weapons transfer practices.
The report urged Italy to ensure that its arms export policies comply with international standards, highlighting the importance of incorporating human rights due diligence into its control mechanisms. As Italy’s human rights record undergoes review next week, the recommendations made by the Asser Institute and GRC are expected to play a key role in shaping the UPR discussion.
According to Asser Institute researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, the recommendations on Italy’s arms export policies are aimed at increasing the transparency and accountability of decisions leading to weapons transfers. Castellanos-Jankiewicz: “The proposals seek to incorporate human rights due diligence in the decision-making process regarding arms exports while harnessing relevant expertise.”
Emphasis on arms transfers
In its summary of stakeholder submissions, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted gaps between Italy’s arms export laws and its Arms Trade Treaty obligations. Italy’s national report briefly outlined its export authorisation procedures, while the OHCHR’s information compilation cited concerns from UN committees about the human rights impact of Italian arms exports.
On 20 January 2025, Italy will present its arms transfer policies during an interactive dialogue with the United Nations’ Human Rights Council’s UPR Working Group. The universal periodic review is a process which evaluates the human rights record of each UN member state every four and a half years. After the meeting, the Council will adopt an outcome report summarising recommendations and Italy’s voluntary commitments, which will become a key part of its permanent human rights record for monitoring arms export-related violations.
Prepared in the context of the project ‘Enabling Civil Society Efforts to Address the Misuse, Diversion and Abuse of Arms Exports in Latin America’, the submission made by the Asser Institute and GRC highlights the impact of Italian weapons transfers on human rights.
Watch Italy’s Review before the Human Rights Council here.
[Project] ‘Enabling civil society efforts to address the misuse, diversion and abuse of arms exports in Latin America’
This project aims to enable civil society in Latin America to address the misuse, diversion and abuse of arms exports through rigorous documentation and investigation of supply chains, human rights training and advocacy with government and industry stakeholders. For this project, the Asser Institute has partnered with Global Rights Compliance and the Center for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), as well as with Diálogos and Fundación Myrna Mack, two Guatemalan civil society organisations focusing on security policy and human rights. At the Asser Institute, the project is led by senior researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz.
