Paris, January 7 {No.99-01}

UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor today made an appeal to control the spread of small arms, inviting the Organization's Member States to step up their initiatives with a view to limit the trade and trafficking in - and the availability and use of - these weapons and increase the transparency in transactions and reduce demand for these arms.

Here is the text of Mr Mayor's declaration:

The end of the Cold War brought hope for peace and relief from the risk of armed confrontation between the major military powers. It has also encouraged the international community to renew its efforts in favour of disarmament and define a new approach to security.

These efforts and the positive signs in favour of the non-violent resolution of conflicts have nevertheless been undermined by the appearance of a new and worrying phenomenon: the unchecked proliferation of small arms, a hangover from the Cold War days of escalating re-armament. This is giving rise to new cycles of violence and setting new obstacles to a return to normal life in post-conflict areas which must contend with the accumulation of weapon in hands often those of the young which should never have had access to them.

This problem does not only concern developing countries, or those which have experienced civil war. It is also manifest in industrialised countries which have, theoretically, been living in peace but where the proliferation of arms and their all too great availability now threatens life in society and even the normal working of educational establishments.

Fortunately, the proliferation of small arms rapidly drew the attention of the international community which has taken into account not only the seriousness of the problem but the lesson of unity learned over the past few years in the fight against anti-personnel landmines. The success of this campaign, which received the enthusiastic support of non-governmental organisations, international organisations, the media and governments, will make it possible to adopt a similar approach to the problem of small arms and to act swiftly and efficiently.

In his most recent Annual Report on the Work of the Organization, the United Nations' Secretary-General stressed the need to take "steps to curb the flow of small arms circulating in civil society." He adds that one "approach to this problem would be to seek to build a global consensus on monitoring and controlling illicit arms transfers and their links with trafficking in other contraband goods" and stresses the need for a wider commitment to "greater openness and transparency in military matters.

Very recently, the Security Council of the United Nations approved a resolution (1209) showing its concern over the destabilising effect these arms are having in Africa. It calls on all states and international organisations to increase efforts to gather and transmit information that can help fight this grave problem. The Security Council expressed satisfaction over the numerous initiatives taken in this direction, notably the moratorium adopted by members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); the signing of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms; and the European Union's prevention programme against the illegal traffic in conventional arms; the approval of a code of ethics for the arms trade; and the Department for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations' efforts to raise public awareness and increase co-ordination.

UNESCO also welcomes the efforts of numerous associations and non-governmental organisations which have established international networks for action regarding small arms, in co-ordination with organisations of the United Nations system and many governments. They have shown themselves to be at once sensitive to, and responsible in, the struggle against a situation which is undermining peace, security, and civilian life and development of many countries.

As Director-General of UNESCO, an organisation whose mission it is to build peace through education, science and culture, I must reaffirm the absolute need to accelerate the transition from a war economy investments in military research and development and defence expenditure are once again increasing to an economy of peace, development and justice. I must express our firm commitment to join all these efforts and work with all sectors of society and invite Member States to increase their endeavours and initiatives to control the trade, availability, use and storage of small arms, to prevent trafficking, increase the transparency of transactions, and reduce demand by all appropriate means.