Global Day Of Action On Military Spending
Cut Military Spending, Fund Human Need

New Delhi, 15 April 2013

Global Day of Action on Military Spending Campaign at Dilli Haat 15 April 2013

Over 100 organisations all over the world came together for the Global Day of Action on Military Spending. This coordinated global effort constitutes a civil society movement for change.

Control Arms Foundation of India & Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network Organised an awareness programme to join the “Global Day of Action on Military Spending: Cut Military Spending, Fund Human Need” 15 April 2013 , The venue of the event are Raj Ghat, India Gate and Dilli Hatt, New Delhi.

Global Day of Action on Military Spending Campaign at India Gate 15 April 2013

On this day, people of India join the world demanding that their governments reduce military spending and devote those precious resources to pressing human needs. They sent a message that $1.5 trillion is too much.. Developing nations like India continue to be the primary importers of arms. Between 2000 and 2007 India ranked world’s second largest arms importer accounting for 7.5 percent of all major weapons transfers.

Now in 2013, India has now emerged as the largest arms importer in the world, overtaking China. India accounted for 9% of all international arms imports between 2006-2013, making it the world`s largest weapons importer.

Global Day of Action on Military Spending Campaign at Raj Ghat 15 April 2013

The Awarness programme was started from Raj Ghat and ended at Dilli Haat; during the event more than 200 fliers were distributed to the general public and explain about the millitary expenditure. Later we have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister of India and Union Defence Minister. We call upon government of India and South Asia to:

1. To cut military expenditure and the saved fund to be deployed towards combating and providing social security.
2. Call upon governments in South Asia to support the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
3. Take the lead in international humanitarian disarmament which was the pillar of India’s Foreign Policy in 1950s and 1960s

The most important social aspect is human security which is often threatened by the insecurity caused by poverty. When people are dying of poverty, can security and arms provide them with a basic square meal? In a country where poverty is rampant and where there is great deal to be done in the fields of health and education, we cannot be spending so much on defence. Our battle is against starvation and deprivation, which cannot be fought with guns and missiles.

Global Day of Action on Military Spending Campaign at Raj Ghat 15 April 2013

For more information, please contact:

Office of the Control Arms Foundation of India
Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network:
Email: cafi.communique@gmail.com,
Phone: +9-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234

Address for correspondence:
B 5/146, Safdarjung Enclave,
New Delhi-110029, India Website / Blog: www.cafi-online.org, www.womensurvivorsnetwork.org & http://neiwip.blogspot.com/