> UN: Global Action Needed on Small Arms
>
> Press Release
> Human Rights Watch
> 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
> New York, NY 10118-3299
> Phone: 212-290-4700
>
>
> New York, NY - The global spread and rampant misuse of small arms and
> light weapons requires a reinvigorated international response, Human
> Rights Watch said today (Monday). More than 100 governments will gather in
> New York July 7-11 to assess progress in stemming the trade in small arms
> since a U.N. Program of Action was agreed two years ago.
>
> "Governments have a long way to go to address the scourge of small arms,"
> said Lisa Misol, arms trade researcher with Human Rights Watch. "They
> should start by cleaning up their own behavior."
> Civilians around the world are at the mercy of small arms-wielding
> abusers, including those of rebel forces and government armies.
>
> In a new briefing paper released today, Human Rights Watch documented
> numerous recent examples of small arms abuses:
> Small arms have been misused by governments and rebel forces in Burma,
> Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Macedonia,
> and Nepal, and in fighting in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
>
> In post-conflict Afghanistan and Iraq, the widespread availability of
> small arms has threatened security, undermined the rule of law, harmed
> peace-building efforts, and put civilians in grave danger.
>
> Small arms also are used to carry out abuses in countries not affected by
> war - such as Cambodia, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Serbia.
> The U.N. Program of Action focuses on preventing illicit trafficking in
> small arms. It does not deal with misuse and only addresses government
> responsibility in relation to preventing the illegal arms trade.
>
> The U.N. process has helped bring attention to the global problem of small
> arms and led to progress in some areas, Human Rights Watch noted, but
> further work is needed.
>
> "This human rights crisis demands a human rights response," Misol said.
>
> Human Rights Watch called on governments to prevent and punish small arms
> misuse, both by government agents and private actors. Governments also
> should cease authorized arms transfers to abusers and tighten controls to
> prevent and punish illicit arms trafficking and irresponsible internal
> weapons circulation.
>
> Key elements of a human rights-centered approach to small arms include
> government action to:
> Fulfill existing government responsibilities to comply with international
> humanitarian and human rights law, and ensure that police and armed forces
> strictly uphold international standards.
>
> Ensure adequate laws are in place to punish the misuse of small arms by
> private actors, and that these are effectively implemented and enforced.
>
> Stop authorizing "legal" arms transfers to abusive recipients and adopt
> binding instruments on arms transfers that contain strong human rights and
> humanitarian criteria, such as the proposed international Arms Trade
> Treaty.
>
> Close legal loopholes and strengthen lax controls that allow gray market
> trade in weapons to thrive and hold arms traffickers accountable,
> including by negotiating binding international treaties on arms brokering
> and marking and tracing.
> Date of Release: July 7, 2003
>
> Press Release
> Human Rights Watch
> 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
> New York, NY 10118-3299
> Phone: 212-290-4700
>
>
> New York, NY - The global spread and rampant misuse of small arms and
> light weapons requires a reinvigorated international response, Human
> Rights Watch said today (Monday). More than 100 governments will gather in
> New York July 7-11 to assess progress in stemming the trade in small arms
> since a U.N. Program of Action was agreed two years ago.
>
> "Governments have a long way to go to address the scourge of small arms,"
> said Lisa Misol, arms trade researcher with Human Rights Watch. "They
> should start by cleaning up their own behavior."
> Civilians around the world are at the mercy of small arms-wielding
> abusers, including those of rebel forces and government armies.
>
> In a new briefing paper released today, Human Rights Watch documented
> numerous recent examples of small arms abuses:
> Small arms have been misused by governments and rebel forces in Burma,
> Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Macedonia,
> and Nepal, and in fighting in Israel and the Occupied Territories.
>
> In post-conflict Afghanistan and Iraq, the widespread availability of
> small arms has threatened security, undermined the rule of law, harmed
> peace-building efforts, and put civilians in grave danger.
>
> Small arms also are used to carry out abuses in countries not affected by
> war - such as Cambodia, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, and Serbia.
> The U.N. Program of Action focuses on preventing illicit trafficking in
> small arms. It does not deal with misuse and only addresses government
> responsibility in relation to preventing the illegal arms trade.
>
> The U.N. process has helped bring attention to the global problem of small
> arms and led to progress in some areas, Human Rights Watch noted, but
> further work is needed.
>
> "This human rights crisis demands a human rights response," Misol said.
>
> Human Rights Watch called on governments to prevent and punish small arms
> misuse, both by government agents and private actors. Governments also
> should cease authorized arms transfers to abusers and tighten controls to
> prevent and punish illicit arms trafficking and irresponsible internal
> weapons circulation.
>
> Key elements of a human rights-centered approach to small arms include
> government action to:
> Fulfill existing government responsibilities to comply with international
> humanitarian and human rights law, and ensure that police and armed forces
> strictly uphold international standards.
>
> Ensure adequate laws are in place to punish the misuse of small arms by
> private actors, and that these are effectively implemented and enforced.
>
> Stop authorizing "legal" arms transfers to abusive recipients and adopt
> binding instruments on arms transfers that contain strong human rights and
> humanitarian criteria, such as the proposed international Arms Trade
> Treaty.
>
> Close legal loopholes and strengthen lax controls that allow gray market
> trade in weapons to thrive and hold arms traffickers accountable,
> including by negotiating binding international treaties on arms brokering
> and marking and tracing.
> Date of Release: July 7, 2003
