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

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• The following is established within the UN framework:
– either a centralized international small arms register (including
ammunition and explosives) to which each State shall transmit on a
regular basis all data contained in its national register, or
– an international agency that would be responsible for requesting
from States, through their national points of contact, the
transmission of the data necessary for conducting tracing
operations.
Advantages: (i) faster and more efficient tracing, given that it would be
better coordinated; (ii) possibility of crosschecking the information between
different tracing operations, permitting the identification of routes
customarily used by traffickers; and, moreover, (iii) in the case of the
international register, the risks due to accidental data loss in one of the
States would be minimized.
The degree of transparency to which States are prepared to consent
determines the modalities for confidentiality of each system.
The Vienna Protocol
• The term “tracing” means the systematic tracking of the transfer of
firearms, and where possible, of their parts, components and
ammunition from manufacturer to purchaser for the purpose of
assisting the competent authorities of States parties in detecting,
investigating and analyzing illicit manufacturing and trafficking
(Article 3 f);
• The States parties agree to cooperate in the tracing of firearms, their
parts, components and ammunition that may have been illicitly
manufactured or trafficked, and to respond promptly, within the limits
of their means, to requests for assistance in this domain (Article 12.4.);
• Each State party shall also identify a national body or a single point of
contact to act as liaison with the other State parties for questions
relative to the Protocol (Article 13.2.); 41
• The States parties exchange, consistent with their respective legal and
administrative systems, relevant information concerning (…) the routes
customarily used by organized criminal groups engaged in e illicit
trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and ammunition (Article
12.2.c); 42
• Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system or any international
agreements, each State party receiving information from another State