Fashion names appeal to UN

Keira Knightley, Vivienne Westwood, Helena Christensen and Jane Birkin are among a host

of stylish names who have teamed up to urge the United Nations to improve the regulation of the international arms trade.

The group has signed a letter, written by Oxfam and Amnesty International, addressed to the UN Secretary General calling for "a strong and effective treaty" that would help protect human rights by preventing the flow of arms to irresponsible users.

"Every year an average of two bullets for every person on this planet are produced," the letter reads. "With so few global rules governing the arms trade, no one really knows where all those bullets will end up - or whose lives they will tear apart. Under the current system, there are less global controls on the sales of ammunition and guns than on bananas and bottled water. It's a ridiculous situation."

The document will be put forward to the UN ahead of a world government meeting today, which will agree an Arms Trade Treaty.