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  Germany is the European Champion in terms of exporting arms. Some of the recipients of German weapons, military equipment and licences are dictatorships and authoritarian regimes with no respect for human rights. Arms exports are permitted by the German government and its authorities. The existing arms trade often exacerbates existing conflicts in the recipient countries, while there are not sufficient financial means for education and combating poverty. Countless people die as a result, are injured or traumatised. Who wants to stop further people from falling victim to this scandalous policy, needs to put an end to the business with death and stop the arms trade. This is why we are asking for a clarification of Article 26 paragraph 2 of the German Constitution, presented in the second box on the right.

• Current formulation of Article 26(2) of the German Constitution

  Weapons destined to be used in combat may only be produced, dispatched and marketed with special permission from the German government. A national law, the Bundesgesetz, regulates the details.

• Clarification of Article 26(2) of the German Constitution

  Weapons destined to be used in combat may only be produced, dispatched and marketed with special permission from the German government. The Law regulating combat weapons regulates the details. Combat weapons and military equipment are generally not exported. The Law regulating combat weapons lays down the details.

It is our aim to generally prohibit arms exports.

Until the end of February 95277 persons signed the aforementioned claim made by the “Outcry Campaign – Stop the Arms Trade”. The signatures were given to the German parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) in combination with the so called Aktionstag (day of action), which take place every 26th of February (refering to article 26 and paragraph 2. A report and photos can be seen here (unfortunately only in German).

Legal background: The paragraph on Information + facts/Legal Situation explains why a prohibition of arms export would clarify the German Constitution.