The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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CHAPTER 1 OVERVIEW PAPER Owen Greene 1.1 INTRODUCTION This paper highlights many of the key findings of a study on the scope and implications of developing a tracing mechanism for small arms and light weapons (SALW). Conducted by a group of international experts convened by UNIDIR and SAS, 1 this overview paper draws upon the four detailed technical papers produced as part of the study, 2 and upon the discussions of the Study Group. Although responsibility for its contents rests with the author alone, it aims to reflect the discussion among Study Group members. There is now broad agreement that efforts to combat the illicit trafficking and proliferation of SALW are obstructed by inadequate capacity to trace the sources and lines of supply of illicit arms. Tracing requires adequate marking and record-keeping of all SALW, along with international cooperation to enable relevant authorities to trace sources, supply routes and diversion points of illicit weapons. At present, there are substantial problems in each of these areas, which need to be systematically and effectively addressed. A wide range of initiatives have been developed in recent years at the national, regional and international levels for the purpose of tackling the small arms problem. Most prominently, in July 2001, States agreed a Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. 3 The illicit trafficking and proliferation of SALW is an immensely complex and multifaceted issue. Systems to ensure traceability of sources 1
2 and lines of supply of illicit SALW are therefore no panacea, but can be just one element of the comprehensive set of programmes and measures needed for effective international action. Nevertheless, based on the information presented in this overview paper (and the broader study on which it draws) it is clear that systems to ensure the traceability of sources and lines of supply of illicit SALW are not only feasible but also have an essential contribution to make in the overall effort to tackle this global problem. 1.2 FRAMING THE ISSUES 1.2.1 Small Arms and Light Weapons: Defining the Weapons of Concern This study is concerned with tracing mechanisms for small arms and light weapons. Broadly speaking, small arms are those weapons designed for personal use, while light weapons are those intended for use by several persons acting as a crew. There is as yet no agreed international definition of SALW. Most widely used is that proposed by the UN Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms in its 1997 report. 4 According to the Panel, the category of small arms includes revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns. Light weapons include heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of calibres of less than 100mm. There is thus a large overlap between the category of SALW and that of a “firearm”, widely defined as any portable barrelled weapon that expels a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive. Although most governments and analysts now use this relatively broad UN description of SALW, there are continuing disagreements over details. For example, numerous governments are reluctant to consider ammunition and explosives as part of SALW, though UN expert groups, beginning with the 1997 Panel, have consistently included them.
Page 1 and 2: UNIDIR/2002/20 The Scope and Implic
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Page Preface. . . . . . .
Page 5: v Chapter 4 Structures and Institut
Page 8 and 9: viii point of diversion, thus inhib
Page 11 and 12: ACRONYMS ATFUS BATF BPA CFR CFR CIC
Page 13: xiii VIN WFSA WIES WR Vehicle Ident
Page 17 and 18: 4 First, if a weapon has been invol
Page 19 and 20: 6 The UN Programme of Action includ
Page 21 and 22: 8 1.3 MARKING 1.3.1 Introduction A
Page 23 and 24: 10 uniquely identify each productio
Page 25 and 26: 12 • Ensure, at the time of trans
Page 27 and 28: 14 • increasing the resistance of
Page 29 and 30: 16 The UN Firearms Protocol, in its
Page 31 and 32: 18 component of this project is to
Page 33 and 34: 20 They clarify whether a weapon is
Page 35 and 36: 22 Though such systems have great p
Page 37 and 38: 24 have a more prominent role to pl
Page 39 and 40: 26 That said, national intelligence
Page 41 and 42: 28 training and technical assistanc
Page 43 and 44: 30 This highlights one of the most
Page 45 and 46: 32 An international tracing mechani
Page 47 and 48: 34 Some of the necessary elements a
Page 49 and 50: 36 on sources and lines of supply o
Page 51 and 52: 38 In promoting international assis
Page 53 and 54: 40 3 Programme of Action to Prevent
Page 55 and 56: 42 25 This section draws on discuss
Page 58 and 59: 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY Berkol, Ilhan, Mark
Page 60 and 61: CHAPTER 2 WHAT TO MARK AND WHAT TO
Page 62 and 63: 49 tracing method for all SALW (con
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51 Figure 2: : The different sub-ca
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53 In order to better grasp the pro
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55 SALW include weapons of war, def
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57 The following questions should t
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59 All of this data, while useful f
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61 2.5 WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR IN
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63 traced, but which ones? Precisel
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65 Table 1: Firearms recovered in c
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67 explosives belts and dozens of t
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69 This data provides an interestin
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71 weapons belonging to illicit cir
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73 imagine being able to effectivel
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75 case of Switzerland, it would be
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77 electronics in animal identifica
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79 based our reflection on goals fo
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81 10 Small Arms Survey, Annuaire s
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APPENDIX 1 83
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APPENDIX 3 85
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87 the army weapon is capable of au
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90 significance, hence in general t
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92 3.1.2 Sanitization Removal or ob
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94 Chinese Type 56-1 Unique Identif
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96 verify that the imported weapons
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98 weapons. There are risks involve
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100 China Type 56 Russia AK47 Russi
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102 channels, with the protection o
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104 3.1.9 Comments Countries seekin
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106 as a result, potentially tip-of
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108 2. All markings must be made pe
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110 shared encryption standard. The
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112 Domestic record-keeping varies
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114 Nevertheless, whilst the Wassen
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116 individual weapon, should as a
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118 • “Consolidation”—4 x 2
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120 With the scope of the Protocol
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122 The South African authorities a
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124 • (Tracing) Details of all st
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126 tracing Chinese weapons. Conseq
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128 circulating information by fax
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130 Tracing requests are normally c
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132 encourage countries along the t
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134 close enough to provide adequat
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136 3. If Interpol is not up to the
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138 which restrict the amount of in
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140 9 It was notable during negotia
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142
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144 There are other reasons as well
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146 Laws Firearms are a durable com
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148 This last point should not be u
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150 the future a firearm tracing qu
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152 There are several important ele
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154 Canada, nearly all transfers re
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156 accuracy and man-hour effective
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158 industry practices. An effectiv
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160
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162 manner in national (and possibl
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164 routine stockpile management. A
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166 International regulations on th
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168 2. The definitions of weapons,
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170 enable national authorities to
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172 serial number of the firearm. T
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174 9. Explosives: the recommendati
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176 • The States parties undertak
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178 • The following is establishe
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180 International regulations on th
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182 • The participating States ag
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184 The Convention on Plastic Explo
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186 5.3.1 European Joint Action The
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188 years in July 2001. In December
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190 • States must make efforts to
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192 a greater degree of harmonizati
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194 this may lead to the undesirabl
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196 28 Or at least difficult or imp
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198 49 Speech by Mr. Koffi Adjouman
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200 in its capacity as President of
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202 Table 1: Scope of the Seven Pri
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204 Table 1 (continued) Characteris
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206 Characteristics of the marking
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208 Characteristics of the marking
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210 Characteristics of the recordke
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212 Characteristics of the record-k
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214 Table 4: Comparison of the Stan
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216 Characteristics of the exchange
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218
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