Global Days of Action on Military Spending

The Global Days of Action on Military Spending began on 5 April 2016 with the release of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)'s annual figures on global military expenditure. GDAMS continued until 18 April 2016, which is "Tax Day" in the USA, a traditional moment in the calendar for civil society to challenge the uses put to public money. During GDAMS, WILPF particilated in a UN experts meeting on lethal autonomous weapon systems, working as part of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots to prevent the development of weapons that target and attack without meaningful human control and the diversion of ever more resources towards technologies of violence. We also issued materials highlighting the intersections of militarism, capitalism, racism, and patriarchy. Blogs published include:

• WILPF looks to the Global Days of Action on Military Spending, 1 April 2016
• The giant quadruplets of militarism, capitalism, racism, and patriarchy, 4 April 2016
• Figures for 2015 show increase in excessive military spending, 5 April 2016
• WILPF to participate in upcoming meeting on killer robots, 7 April 2016
• Militarism challenged and human neds highlighted during 2016 Global Days of Action on Military Spending, 18 April 2016

In addition, on 12 April, WILPF hosted a webinar giving a preview of a new report related to preventing gender-based violence through the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty and other arms control instruments. Stopping arms transfers and preventing armed violence and armed conflict are critical to challenging excessive military spending and militarist cultures.