From 2015 to 2022, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE carried out airstrikes in Yemen, even targeting civilians. This conflict was fuelled by arms exports from Europe, incl. France, which continued despite clear documentation of violations of international humanitarian law by the coalition.

Between 2015 and 2020, France delivered more than 8 billion € worth of military equipment to the coalition, in violation of its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty. For years, @[email protected] and NGOs tried to find out whether French-made weapons were used in attacks against civilians in Yemen.

But at every turn, French courts and the government have systematically denied us the right to access information on arms exports. Their justification: This is confidential information covered by France’s foreign policy and national defense secrets.

It is time to put an end to this institutionalized lack of transparency, because this information is essential to enable public debate - protected by the right to freedom of expression. Decisions regarding arms exports are not merely political decisions that stand above the law.