There are six committees of the UN General Assembly. The First Committee deals with disarmament and international security, and meets annually at UN Headquarters in New York (US) during October.
In 2009,there are several resolutions at the First Committee relating to small arms and light weapons control. In addition, the Control Arms campaign is promoting a resolution on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).This resolution will establish a negotiating conference in 2012.
After approval in the First Committee, these resolutions will be transmitted to the General Assembly for a final vote. To learn more about the First Committee, and to find out what your government said, visit the website of Reaching Critical Will.
Click here to view highlights of the First Committee
Resolutions debated at the First Committee
The Arms Trade Treaty
Voting result: 153 yes, 19 abstain, 1 no
This resolution establishes a 2012 UN Conference on the ATT, where the text will be negotiated. The remaining 4 weeks of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) in 2010 and 2011 are transformed into preparatory committees to help develop the text.The Conference will make decisions on the basis of consensus.
Click here to read the resolution.
The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects
Voting result: 179 yes
Voting result on paragrpah 4: 177 yes, 1 abstain
Voting result on paragrpah 15: 177 yes, 1 abstain
This resolution confirms that the 2010 Biennial Meeting of States will be held from 14-18 June. It also reaffirms an expert meeting in 2011 and a Review Conference for the UN Programme of Action in 2012. Click here to read the resolution.
Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional
ammunition stockpiles in surplus
It also encouraged States to review their ammunition stockpiles to determine the size and nature of their surplus stock. Surplus stock should then be destroyed. Click here to read the draft resolution.
Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them
This resolution encourages sub-Saharan African States to facilitate effective functioning of their National Commissions on Small Arms. It also calls for international support to these efforts, and encourages States and other international organisations to cooperate with and support the work of civil society on small arms control. Click here to read the draft resolution.
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