Small arms control

Controlling illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons

1. Collection, control, disposal and destruction of arms, especially small arms and light weapons

My country is making great efforts nationally to curb small arms and light weapons.

The two organizations are cooperating in controlling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Given that small arms are inoperable without ammunition, the flow of ammunition for small arms and light weapons must also be brought under control.

Deliveries of Russian small arms and light weapons for export are under strict State control.

The effective control of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons also requires the strong collaboration of arms producers and suppliers.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of a pilot programme on small arms and light weapons control and an international framework for the national commission on small arms and light weapons.

Singapore enforces strict control over the import and export of small arms and trading in such weapons.

31. Expresses concern about the large number of small arms in society and commends the efforts of the Government of Cambodia to control the spread of weapons

(b) Restriction of arms possession leading to a total control over these arms.

Controlling the proliferation of light weapons.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of a pilot programme on small arms and light weapons control, an institutional framework for the national commission on small arms and light weapons and a number of documents related to this topic.

One of the greatest difficulties in controlling the illicit proliferation of small arms is their easy accessibility to non State actors.

Combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons

(b) Encompass other conventional arms control limitation and disarmament measures, such as, inter alia, arms control and confidence building measures, including transparency in armaments, the combating of the illicit arms trade (in particular, in small arms and light weapons).

It is our considered view that the manufacturing and exporting countries are in a better position to control the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons than the recipients.

The priority areas identified for implementing this project are harmonizing legislation to control small arms and light weapons enhancing national capability to control firearms supporting the collection of weapons and ensuring the destruction of weapons all in order to prevent or reduce the abuse of small arms and light weapons and contribute to a culture of peace.

South Africa has established an arms control system which makes provision for a ministerial control body, criteria, principles and guidelines to ensure the responsible transfer and trade in, among others, small arms and light weapons.

17. Following the collection, control and secure storage of arms, it is necessary to determine which arms are surplus.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Forum for Security Cooperation adopted two decisions designed to enhance the control of small arms and light weapons exports, decision 5 04 on standard elements for end user certificates and verification procedures for small arms and light weapons exports, and decision 8 04, which sets forth OSCE principles on the control of brokering in small arms and light weapons.

The UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery has initiated a project on control of small arms and light weapons in States of the Mano River Union and Côte d'Ivoire with a view to strengthening the harmonization of the work to fight the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the subregion, and reinforcing the capacity building efforts of national commissions on with regard to small arms and light weapons.

My country therefore believes that one fundamental element in controlling the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons would be to negotiate a legal instrument regulating the transfer of such arms.

Controller size on the scene

ECOWAS has also established a Small Arms Unit, which will provide leadership in the elaboration and implementation of ECOWAS policy on the control of small arms and light weapons, including the monitoring of the moratorium and its transformation into a convention.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has also embarked on a legislative campaign to control small arms and explosives.

Africa is one of the regions that has suffered most from the uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons, fuelled by the greed of death merchants.

We have therefore been working actively in all regional and international forums with a view to curbing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons has contributed to their unlimited proliferation.

The Netherlands continues to be active on almost all non nuclear arms control and disarmament issues, including biological weapons, chemical weapons, missiles, landmines, explosive remnants of war and small arms and light weapons.

The United Nations Programme of Action commits Member States to national, regional and international measures to control small arms and light weapons.

Some of those disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes also emphasize weapons collection strategies at the community level, which are complemented by support to develop small arms and light weapons control regimes and the capacity of national Governments to deal with the proliferation of such weapons.

The control of small arms and disarmament of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons is a prerequisite for peace and security.

Furthermore, as experience shows that marking and tracing of small arms and light weapons is an effective instrument for the regulation of their flows, the Council may also wish to recommend that all small arms and light weapons used in peacekeeping missions be marked and traced, as appropriate, by the United Nations, in collaboration with troop contributing countries.

Control to prevent the supply of weapons to terrorists

The FSC has also adopted a number of other decisions on enhancing stockpile security and export controls of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition.

Perhaps one of the most promising items on the disarmament and arms control agenda has been the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Global safety also demands control of the proliferation of conventional arms, particularly small arms and anti personnel landmines, whether deployed or in national stockpiles.

The existence of national coordination bodies being another essential element in controlling the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Mexico had in 1995 also established an inter institutional coordination group for the prevention and control of arms trafficking, in which various federal and state bodies were participating.

The amendments to Decree Law 39 89, the Arms and Ammunition Act, are aimed at improving controls relating to illicit trafficking in and illegal possession of firearms ammunition, illegal bearing of explosives, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and experimental weapons, and the stockpiling of and illegal trade in firearms and ammunition.

Similarly, under the CWA, if a subject were found to have chemical weapons in their possession, the key elements of the offence would be their physical control of those weapons, and knowledge that the weapons were in their custody and control.

(a) Effective export, import and transfer controls and their enforcement as the keystone to any successful efforts to mitigate the problems of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons

Programs on small arms and light weapons, their export controls and stockpiles of conventional ammunition are developed and implemented in the CPC by the FSC Support Unit.

Providing the required means and legislation to adhere to the requirements for tracing small and light arms and to preventing their smuggling and illegal trade in such arms.