Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release

Could your face be on the big screen?

Friday 23rd June, 2006.

Amnesty International & Oxfam Ireland

If you are one of the thousands of Northern Irish people who backed Oxfam Ireland and Amnesty International's campaign for an international Arms Trade Treaty, you could be getting the big screen treatment in Belfast this weekend.

The Control Arms Million Faces Petition has been collecting photos of supporters from around the world to reach the target of one million faces by the start of a crucial UN Review Conference on Small Arms which begins this Monday (June 26) in New York .

In advance of the conference part of the global petition of faces will be shown on the big screen in Belfast 's Shaftesbury Square from today through to Sunday.

These faces will send a powerful visual and global message of support to the world's governments to agree an international Arms Trade Treaty.

The Control Arms campaign had been backed by thousands of people from across Northern Ireland, including famous faces like Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, actor James Nesbitt, DJ Colin Murray, and members of Ash and Divine Comedy.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Director said: "There are around 639 million small arms and light weapons in the world today and eight million more are produced every year. Without strict control, such weapons will continue to fuel violent conflict, state repression, crime and domestic abuse."

Dr Brian Scott, Director of Oxfam Ireland said: "A global Arms Trade Treaty is desperately needed now. It would create legally binding arms controls and ensure that all governments control arms to the same basic international standards. Unless governments act to stop the spread of arms, more lives will be lost, more human rights violations will take place, and more people will be denied the chance to escape poverty."

Add your face to the campaign and find out more by logging onto the Control Arms website

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