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

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Characteristics
of the recordkeeping
Conservation
of the data in
each State
Regional or
sub-regional
registers
Table 3: Comparison of the Standards for Record-Keeping Necessary to Trace SALW
Vienna
Protocol
UN
Programme
of
Action
Convention
on the
Marking of
Plastic
Explosives
International
regulations on
the transport of
dangerous
goods
OAS
Convention
SADC
Protocol
OSCE
Document
Each State
ensures the
information
is conserved
States ensure
that the
records are
organized
and maintained
to
permit the
authorities to
find precise
information
Contains no
provisions for
the recording
of data
In Europe, records
are kept by Verification
Institutes,
which must transmit
any information
requested by
the authorities. The
producer is also
under the obligation
to conserve
the data
The State Parties
ensure
the conservation
of the
information
States carry out
the centralized
recording of
weapons held by
civilians; maintain
comprehensive
national
inventories of the
state-owned
weapons; and
establish national
databases to facilitate
the exchange
of information
States ensure
that the records
are kept and
conserved
No No The Verification
Institutes of three
European countries
have undertaken
steps among
themselves and
with the EU to create
a European
databank
No, but a
regional database
is being
established by
the UN
Regional Centre
at Lima
States endeavor
to compare in a
coordinated manner
their national
procedures for
the establishment
and maintenance
of electronic databases
States establish
norms, principles
and measures
for the
records, inspired
by the OSCE
security concept,
and acting in
concert with
other international
authorities
Desirable
system
States establish
national centralized
registers,
which are
closely linked to
the national
point of contact
on small arms
(see the section
“data exchange”)
Harmonization
of norms and
practices. The
regional databases
are useful
if an international
database is
not established