Arms transfers are not a human rights-free zone – UN report

States and the private sector must do more to tackle the devastating human rights impact of arms transfers, according to a UN Human Rights Office report published on 4 March 2025.

Amid the highest number of violent conflicts since World War II, such transfers and the diversion of arms are contributing to internal repression, human rights violations and abuses, and serious violations of international humanitarian law, the report warns.

The report details challenges related to corruption and conflicts of interest in the arms sector, as well as gaps between what States and the private sector should do – and what they do in practice – to prevent, address and mitigate the negative human rights impact of arms transfers.

Political expediency and narrow economic objectives too often result in allowing arms transfers when there are real risks that they could contribute to violations of international law.

The report further highlights that companies frequently lack human rights policies and due diligence processes to assess independently the risks of violations.

The report calls for States to conduct robust risk assessments, refrain from prohibited arms transfers, prevent unlawful arms transfers by third parties, and ensure judicial oversight of transfers and provision of effective remedies to victims. The private sector has responsibility to respect human rights, including through undertaking effective human rights due diligence.