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

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39<br />

International ef<strong>for</strong>ts to develop <strong>and</strong> strengthen the tracing <strong>of</strong> illicit small<br />

arms can build capacity to conduct criminal investigations <strong>and</strong> successfully<br />

prosecute cases. <strong>The</strong>y can also help States <strong>and</strong> international organizations<br />

to identify <strong>and</strong> monitor sources <strong>and</strong> supply routes <strong>for</strong> illicit small arms, <strong>and</strong><br />

to take action to prevent or disrupt such supply—including supply to<br />

conflict zones <strong>and</strong> States under arms embargo. This latter aspect is<br />

especially important <strong>for</strong> a tracing mechanism situated within the framework<br />

<strong>of</strong> the UN Programme <strong>of</strong> Action.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are many issues that need to be addressed in designing <strong>and</strong><br />

developing an effective international mechanism <strong>for</strong> tracing illicit SALW.<br />

<strong>The</strong> improvement <strong>of</strong> systems <strong>for</strong> marking, record-keeping <strong>and</strong> tracing is a<br />

continuous task. Nevertheless, there are important opportunities <strong>for</strong> moving<br />

rapidly towards the establishment <strong>of</strong> an international tracing mechanism. It<br />

is hoped that this study will serve as a useful resource to the international<br />

community as it seeks to take advantage <strong>of</strong> these opportunities in the<br />

coming months <strong>and</strong> years.<br />

Notes<br />

1<br />

<strong>The</strong> members <strong>of</strong> the SAS/UNIDIR Study Group were: Peter Batchelor;<br />

Ilhan Berkol; Christophe Carle; Owen Greene; Michael Hallowes;<br />

Keith Krause; Patricia Lewis; Glenn McDonald; Frédéric Schütz; Gary<br />

Thomas; <strong>and</strong> Michel Wéry. All members <strong>of</strong> the Group participated in<br />

their personal capacities; their views did not necessarily coincide with<br />

those <strong>of</strong> their organizations. In addition, Nadia Fischer, Olivier Guerot,<br />

René Haug, Ambassador Rakesh Sood <strong>and</strong> Stefano Toscano<br />

contributed valuably to the discussions at a meeting <strong>of</strong> the Study Group<br />

in April 2002.<br />

2<br />

<strong>The</strong> technical papers prepared <strong>for</strong> the SAS/UNIDIR Study Group were:<br />

Michael Hallowes, Marking <strong>and</strong> Record-Keeping Systems <strong>and</strong><br />

Modalities <strong>of</strong> Operation; Gary L. Thomas, Structures <strong>and</strong> Institutions<br />

Necessary to Support the Effective Operation <strong>of</strong> a Firearms <strong>Tracing</strong><br />

<strong>Mechanism</strong>; Frédéric Schütz, What to mark <strong>and</strong> what to trace? <strong>The</strong><br />

<strong>Implications</strong> <strong>of</strong> Selecting Categories <strong>and</strong> Types <strong>of</strong> SALW <strong>for</strong> Inclusion in<br />

a <strong>Tracing</strong> <strong>Mechanism</strong>; Michel Wéry <strong>and</strong> Ilhan Berkol, Traceability <strong>of</strong><br />

Light <strong>Arms</strong>: a comparison <strong>of</strong> the main existing international<br />

mechanisms.

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