The European Union has voted for an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia in response to the states heavy bombing of Yemen during its campaign against Houthi militants.
The non-binding motion was passed by 359 votes to 212, and adds to a code of conduct agreed by the EU in 2008 where countries promised to not sell weapons to countries where they might be used “to commit serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
A British lawmaker and Labour MEP Richard Howitt, who helped draft the motion, said,
“This is about Yemen. The human rights violations have reached a level that means Europe si obliged to act and to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”
Almost 6,000 people have been killed since the bombing campaign started last March, almost half of them being civilians, reports Reuters.
The non-binding motion was passed by 359 votes to 212, and adds to a code of conduct agreed by the EU in 2008 where countries promised to not sell weapons to countries where they might be used “to commit serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
A British lawmaker and Labour MEP Richard Howitt, who helped draft the motion, said,
“This is about Yemen. The human rights violations have reached a level that means Europe si obliged to act and to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia.”
Almost 6,000 people have been killed since the bombing campaign started last March, almost half of them being civilians, reports Reuters.