Global: "Key UN meeting opens to review efforts on curbing small arms trafficking"

[cuchulainn]

This is going on right now.

from the UN website

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=7642&Cr=small&Cr1=arms

Key UN meeting opens to review efforts on curbing small arms trafficking

7 July – The first-ever international meeting to consider implementation of the United Nations Action Plan for eradicating the illicit small arms trade opened in New York today with a call from Secretary-General Kofi Annan for redoubled efforts to curb a "global scourge" that kills about 60 people every hour.

"It is difficult to overstate the importance of implementation of the Programme of Action, which was adopted two years ago at the first ever United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects," Mr. Annan said in a message to the first Biennial meeting of States to review progress, at UN Headquarters in New York. The statement, which opened the week-long session, was delivered on his behalf by Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs Nobuyasu Abe.

Noting that half a million people a year are killed by these weapons, 90 percent of them women and children, Mr. Annan added: "Less quantifiable, but no less palpable, are the wider consequences of small arms proliferation in terms of conflict fuelled, peacekeepers threatened, aid denied, respect for law undermined, and development stunted. As I have said before, they are truly a global scourge."

"I hope we will see even greater progress in implementing the Programme of Action in the years leading up to the second biennial meeting in 2005 and the Review Conference in 2006," he said. "The United Nations remains firmly committed to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects."

The 2001 Conference succeeded in placing the issue on the international agenda. Of the half million people killed each years by small arms and light weapons 300,000 die in armed conflict and 200,000 from homicides and suicides. In the 1990s, small arms were the weapons of choice in 47 of 49 major conflicts.

The Programme of Action identifies national, regional and global measures, including: legislation on illegal manufacturing, possession, stockpiling and trade in small arms; stockpile management and destruction of weapons confiscated, seized, or collected; identification and tracing of the illicit arms; international cooperation and assistance to States to strengthen their ability to identify and trace the illicit weapons; and public awareness campaigns.

The current meeting will focus on exchanging information on initiatives undertaken thus far by states, regional and international organizations, and civil society.

In his opening statement, Mr. Abe said he was encouraged by the efforts and the commitment shown by the international community to address the challenges posed by uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The Programme of Action represented a milestone, both in the global efforts to advance the disarmament agenda, and in promoting human security, development, respect for human rights and protection of the most vulnerable sectors in society, he added. Its full implementation was challenging and important.