DYB2011-Part-II-web

Small arms and light weapons
Conventional weapons issues
Small arms and light weapons continued to wreak havoc in many parts
of the world, in particular in post-conflict settings and areas of endemic crime.
Concerned about the continued unregulated circulation of small arms and their
ammunition, particularly their highly destabilizing impact on security and
development in all regions of the world, the United Nations Security Council
and the General Assembly have continued to place the issue on their agendas.
Security Council
During the year, the challenge posed by the proliferation of small arms
and related material remained an important theme throughout a wide array of
topics addressed by the Security Council.
In particular, the Council held closed consultations on 25 April on the
report of the Secretary-General on small arms3 submitted to the Council. The
report contained recommendations on the promotion of weapons tracing and
ammunition tracing in conflict and post-conflict areas; improving recordkeeping
procedures of arms and ammunition; securing of ammunition
stockpiles to mitigate threats of diversion, including the production of
improvised explosive devices; the development of measurable goals on
armed violence prevention and the integration of security-related themes
into the possible follow-up of the Millennium Development Goals; engaging
armed groups with the aim of increasing their compliance with agreed norms
regarding the use of small arms; and improving the information sharing
between Security Council arms embargo monitoring groups, sanctions
committees, peacekeepers, Member States and regional and international
organizations.
The issue of small arms was also seen as highly relevant in other debates
within the Security Council, including the challenge of children and armed
conflict; the relationship between women, peace and security; the protection
of civilians in armed conflict; violation of arms embargoes; and threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons
Since its adoption in 2001, the United Nations Programme of Action
to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects4 has been central to global efforts to curb the
illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their uncontrolled
proliferation. The Programme of Action spelled out a range of measures to be
3 S/2011/255.
4 A/CONF.192/15. Available from http://www.poa-iss.org/poa/poa.aspx (accessed 2 June
2012).
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