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

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firearms index that contains the names and addresses of all the weapons
manufacturers in the world, as well as the descriptions of the models and
an indication of their calibre and country of manufacture. 49
In conclusion, IWETS should be given substantially greater resources
and should have a much wider scope of application (covering all SALW) in
order to establish a proper tracing operation. 50 Nevertheless, it is an
interesting mechanism to consider, and several of the mechanisms
examined in section 5.2 called for collaboration with Interpol.
5.3.5 The Franco-Swiss Initiative
This is a more informal initiative, but one which could prove to have
an important effect on the constitution of a broader international marking
and tracing mechanism. This initiative is backed by the EU. This process
recently led to the constitution of a group of ten States that are practically
all represented in the UN Group of Governmental Experts on the Marking
and Tracing of Small Arms. One of the objectives of this group of States is
to provide support for and input into the work of the Group of Experts.
The “Franco-Swiss Initiative” consists of two documents introduced
during the first and second sessions of the Preparatory Committee for the
UN Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons (March 2000 and
January 2001), 51 as well as a series of seminars intended to explain these
initiatives to other countries.
The “Franco-Swiss Initiative” is a process rather than a fixed position,
and as such its contents are subject to change. Nevertheless, we have listed
the main points set forth in the aforementioned documents:
• All SALW are to be marked in an appropriate manner, and existing
weapons that are not marked appropriately are to be marked or else
promptly destroyed.
• Appropriate markings must be unique and must identify the
manufacturing and importing countries;
• Appropriate marking must be financially feasible, based on a known
technique, safe and reliable. A process must be established to permit
technological developments to be continuously evaluated;
• Registration systems should be accurate, allowing the competent
national bodies to collect and use precise information;