Militarism and repression
Many companies thrive off war and conflict by supplying weapons that kill and maim, by financing war efforts, or by running mercenary armies. The global arms trade supports repressive regimes, fuels wars and armed violence, and reinforces global oppression and inequality.
Multinational mining companies are buying up land across the planet to extract natural resources, contracting state forces, private mercenary companies, and even illegal paramilitary groups to protect their interests and repress local opposition. Their operations have forced communities from their own land, polluted the environment, and led to widespread human rights violations.
We pressure the UK government to stop approving billions of pounds worth of arms exports to human rights abusing regimes. We stand with our partners and all human rights defenders in the Global South in the fight for their land and livelihoods, and we hold UK-based mining companies to account for the violence they inflict on communities.
Discover more
The ceasefire won’t end Israel’s violence: 9 key issues
Israel’s occupation is illegal, rules International Court of Justice
Israel is torturing Palestinians – and the UK must act
Barclays: Bankrolling genocide & apartheid
End Israeli Apartheid
War on Want response: Israel moves to outlaw Palestinian human rights groups
Policing Bill: why we're standing up for the right to protest
'Judge, Jury, and Occupier' report: questions & answers
The neocolonial violence of mining: stories of resistance against BHP
Stop Arming Israel
Take action
Hold Israel to account for torturing Palestinians
Palestinian detainees have been systematically tortured by Israel, with impunity, for decades. And now, Israel is dramatically escalating its use of torture against the Palestinian people. The UK must act.
Tell the Foreign Secretary: this is Genocide
Tell David Lammy – this is genocide – the UK must take action to end Israel’s genocide, and the UK’s complicity in it.
Arrest Warrants Issued for Israel's Leaders: UK Must Act
The UK must back the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israel's leaders – and end UK complicity in Israel’s genocide and war crimes.
Barclays: Stop Bankrolling Genocide and Apartheid
Barclays has ramped up its bankrolling of companies selling arms to Israel’s occupation and apartheid regime by 55% since 2021. Demand an end to its complicity in apartheid and genocide.
Siemens Gamesa: Stop the plunder
Siemens Gamesa are profiting from Morocco’s plunder of illegally occupied land & violent repression of the people of Western Sahara.
Stop JCB bulldozing Palestinian rights
The UK government must end its complicity with Israel’s settlement enterprise and hold businesses – including JCB – to account.
No civilian should be subject to military courts
Email your MP to demand an end to Israel’s unjust system of military courts
Download report (PDF)
Download nowPartners
Action for Ecology and People’s Emancipation (AEER), Indonesia
Action for Ecology and People’s Emancipation (AEER) is an environmental NGO that struggles for improvements in the management of natural resources to help build sustainable relationships between communities and their environment. It undertakes research and defends the rights of communities negatively impacted by extractivist policies and companies.
Association for Social Research and Action (Nomadesc), Colombia
In Colombia, more than five million people have been forced from their homes by violence and extreme poverty, made refugees in their own country. Rural Colombians have lost huge swathes of land. This humanitarian crisis and the needs of displaced people are well known in Colombia. The Social Research and Action Association (Asociacion para la investigacion y la accion social – Nomadesc) works to fix this massive disadvantage. By bringing these vulnerable groups together, Nomadesc unites and raises the voices of these communities. By strengthening the ties between the groups and giving them the tools to defend their human rights, communities are better able to protect themselves from violence and displacement. War on Want has supported Nomadesc in their work investigating violations of human rights and working to strengthen social movements through popular education initiatives.
Networks
Dismantle Corporate Power
London Mining Network
Resources
Judge, Jury, and Occupier
Israel's military court system in the occupied West Bank
Deadly Investments
UK banks and financial institutions facilitate and profit from Israel's militarism, making them complicit in Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people.