(United Nations, New York – 11
July) Small arms proliferation and misuse is now firmly on the
agendas of national
and international
governments, according to NGOs involved in the process. But although
a week-long UN conference on small arms has generated momentum
for government action, to actually reduce the health and humanitarian
impacts of small arms on people around the world, that momentum
must be maintained and increased.
“We are on the way to government recognition that small
arms proliferation and misuse is an international threat to health
and human development that must be addressed globally and consistently,” said
Rebecca Peters, Director of the International Action Network on
Small Arms (IANSA). “But we have to remember that as we meet
in New York, people are dying. This is not a matter of simply talking;
the talking must lead to action. That’s what we are committed
to push for in the months and years ahead.”
The UN Biennial Meeting of States on small arms produced a number
of significant outcomes, including:
- The UN Group of Experts on Marking
and Tracing released a report indicating that it is feasible
to have an instrument on
weapons tracing, and a recommendation for such an implementation
will be submitted to the General Assembly. It is clear that we
need a legally binding instrument on tracing, which includes marking,
record keeping and international cooperation. IANSA will support
this measure and push for its adoption.
- We welcome the EU statement on
brokering, which calls for a registry of arms brokers, exchange
of information between
states and adequate sanctions to ensure effective enforcement
of brokering controls.
- A number of UN agencies, including
UNDP, WHO, UNIFEM and UNIDIR, have made strong statements
about the human costs of
small arms proliferation, and clearly recognize that this process
must be focussed on reducing the damage and destruction on
individuals caused by small arms. IANSA congratulates these agencies
and the
conference Chair for their words, which reflect the position
of IANSA and other NGOs.
- While less than half of all governments – about
80 – submitted reports to the conference, this is more
than have previously ever done so.
Despite these achievements, a number of challenges remain:
- Member states are still far away
from achieving global legal standards, which would help keep
small arms away from human
rights abusers. This is particularly important as delegates and
civil society from Africa, the Middle East and Central America,
among other regions, are facing crises of armed conflict.
- We need greater recognition that domestic
laws and international policies are interdependent, and that
each
country’s national
laws affect the small arms proliferation problems of its
neighbours and even countries in other regions.
- We need greater recognition that
the legal and the illegal markets for small arms are inter-related,
that many illicit transfers
start out as legal ones, and that small arms are responsible
for deaths and destruction whether they are technically held
illegally
or not.
- The minimal requirement on governments
to report to the UN on their small arms activities and efforts
is woefully low and
must be raised.
The Biennial Meeting of States has shown clearly that such gatherings
serve to engage and spur governmental action by prompting discussion
and reporting in the weeks and months prior to the meeting. With
these points in mind, IANSA calls for the following:
- Annual government
reporting on small arms activities would help maintain and
grow the momentum,
by generating more regular
action and engagement from national delegations.
- Increased involvement of NGOs would
help ensure that the representatives of those who are most
affected by small arms,
and whose interests are most impacted by the UN process, will
be served.
The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) is the
global movement against gun violence - a network of more than 500
civil society organisations working in 100 countries to stop the
proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. IANSA
seeks to reduce the impact of small arms by fostering collaborative
advocacy, promoting the development of regional and thematic networks,
supporting capacity building and raising awareness.
IANSA contacts: Awa Cessay (917) 710-4287, Jessica
Galeria (917) 710-4296 or
Emile LeBrun (917) 710-4293.
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