As arms dealers queued to enter one of the world's largest weapons fairs in London last week (the euphemistically titled Defence and Security Equipment International, or DSEI), they were greeted with a remembrance ceremony for all the victims of their deadly trade.

The PPU led the vigil in collaboration with Every Casualty Counts (ECC), who work to ensure every life lost to armed violence is recorded, identified and acknowledged. We were also standing alongside numerous other organisations, groups and individuals; all of us there to voice our disgust at the destructiveness of the global arms trade.

We read stories of people who lost their lives to armed conflict in 2024, focusing on individuals who’d lived in Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Iraq and Yemen. The complicity of the UK government in these conflicts was highlighted, and we were reminded of the extent of the suffering caused by the arms trade, including some extremely worrying recent trends:*

• Civilian deaths in conflict rose by 40% compared to 2023. This is the third consecutive yearly increase. Since 2015 the number of civilian deaths in armed conflict had been steadily decreasing, but this trend reversed in 2022.
• The vast majority of civilian deaths occurred in Gaza.
• Between 2023 and 2024, the number of women and children killed in armed conflicts quadrupled compared to the previous two-year period (2021–2022).
• At least 21,480 women and 16,690 children were killed in conflict between 2023 and 2024.
• 80% of the children killed in global conflicts in 2024 were killed in Gaza; 70% of the women killed in conflict were killed in Gaza.

We held moments of silence for the loss of life in these countries, and sounded a bell every 12 minutes to mark the loss of another civilian death to armed conflict in 2024 (as per ECC’s findings).

We also remembered all victims of war, laying a white poppy wreath to symbolise our commitment to peace and our rejection of militarism. This inclusive understanding of remembrance makes clear that ‘never again’ is for anyone and everyone.

The thousands of people who attend DSEI distance themselves from the realities of their trade – which facilitates death and destruction across the world. We were there to confront them with these realities and to bear witness to the full human cost of war.

While we’re witnessing brutal conflicts across the world, and while global tensions are mounting, arms companies are reporting record profits, and many governments are pledging huge hikes in military spending. Against this worrying and devastating backdrop, the UK government invited arms dealers into the heart of East London to do deals with representatives of governments and armed forces around the world, including repressive regimes and countries in conflict with each other.

Despite the lack of an official Israeli delegation to DSEI, the UK government permitted 51 Israeli arms companies to exhibit this year, along with international companies complicit in Israeli war crimes. This decision makes clear that official comments expressing horror at Israel’s actions are just words. The UK government is choosing to protect these companies’ already huge profits at the expense of Palestinian lives. They are also using the UK police force to repress protesters, rather than to arrest arms dealers for war crimes.

DSEI is morally indefensible, and it was encouraging to see so much action against the arms fair this year. There are many people willing to stand up for a more peaceful and just world, and in a moment where the challenges can feel insurmountable, this gives us hope and strength.

Our remembrance leads us to resistance, and only strengthens our resolve to continue struggling for peace. 

* Findings from research conducted by Every Casualty Counts.