Small arms and light weapons international peace institute. The following is a list of modern russian small arms and light weapons which were in service in 2016. The failure to control this trade effectively has serious humanitarian consequences as the resulting widespread use of these weapons causes immense human suffering. To coordinate the efforts of the united nations, a systemwide mechanism, the coordinating action on small arms casa, was established in 1998 to help all the various departments and agencies share information, experience, and practices, and to provide a forum for consultation in matters related to the field of small arms and light weapons.
The term small arms and light weapons onuoha, 2006 refers to any weapon that can be maneuvered and, manipulated by one or two persons. A vast number of weapons are in public and private hands. Per thoresson in the security council on the human cost of the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small. Controlling the trade in small arms and light weapons volume 64 issue 1 asif efrat skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Prevention of human rights violations committed with small. Light weapons is a generic term which is used to cover a range of weapons portable by man or machine from revolvers and machine guns to antitank and antiaircraft missile systems. Arms availability and the situation of civilians in armed. For decades,small arms and light weapons salw 1 have been used to kill and injure people across the world on a massive scale.
The proliferation of weapons in the hands of new and often undisciplined actors has outpaced efforts to ensure compliance with basic rules of warfare. In general, small arms refer to weapons designed for individual use, and light weapons are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew. Of 49 major conflicts in the 1990s, 47 were waged with small arms as the weapons of choice. Pdf small arms and light weapons salws illegal trafficking. It is now welldocumented that the proliferation of. Since the united nations was first established in 1945, the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons has been an international problem. Reporting on firearms marking in the recsa region, by james bevan and benjamin king, a joint publication of regional centre on small arms in the great lakes region, the horn of africa and bordering states, and the small arms survey. As seen below, the largest exporters of global arms include the us, russia, china, france, germany, the uk, spain, italy and other countries with significant industrial capacities. There are more than 1,200 companies in 90 countries that produce small arms small arms survey 2004 salw kill between 500,000 and 750,000 people. Reporting transfers of small arms and light weapons to the. Small arms are the weapons of choice of warring parties government armies, paramilitaries, rebel forces. Light weapons comprise heavy machineguns, mortars of up to 100mm, and portable anticraftaircraft systems, while the term small arms denotes a subcategory of light.
Marine corps begins fielding new m320a1 grenade launcher march 7, 2020 march 7, 2020 dp staff writer 0 comments 40 mm grenade, grenade, m203 grenade launcher, m320 grenade launcher module glm, u. Sri lanka is heavily affected by the proliferation of illicit small arms that impacts on community safety and security. List of modern russian small arms and light weapons. Small arms and light weapons proliferation and its. This issues brief outlines the problems associated with the proliferation and misuse of small arms, particularly in relation to. The aims of the convention are to8 criminalize illicit manufacturing and trafficking. Small arms and light weapons salw 1 programmes that tackle the proliferation of small arms and light weapons can transform a culture of violence, increase security and open space for sustainable development.
How to guide small arms and light weapons legislation att. Small arms and light weapons, 20042007 paul holtom october 2008 summary w ukraine inherited millions of small arms and light weapons salw after the collapse of the soviet union and in the 1990s ukrainian arms and ammunition found their way to conflicts and embargoed targets in africa and the middle east. Ukrainian exports of small arms and light weapons, 20042007. The nairobi declaration on the problem of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the great lakes region and the horn of africa 2 the nairobi declaration was signed, by consensus, in march 2000 by burundi, democratic republic of congo, djibouti, ethiopia, eritrea, kenya, rwanda, sudan, tanzania, and uganda. Small arms and light weapons to the united nations register of conventional arms, 2007 paul holtom february 2009 sipri background paper summary w states have been invited to report on international transfers of small arms and light weapons salw to the united nations register of conventional arms unroca since 2003. Committee on international security studies and american academy of arts and sciences, 1995. The publication is a convenient collection of key international instruments relating to the issue of small arms and light weapons at the united nations, as well as the most recent documentation from the security council and the general assembly relevant to the subject. The focus of efforts should be to end the indiscriminate use and curb the oversupply of these weapons, with the aim of reducing the damage and suffering they cause. Francois delattre, permanent representative of france to the united nations security council may 2015 i would, first of all, like to thank lithuania for having organized an open debate on the central issue of small arms and light weapons. Small arms and light weapons kill at least 300,000 people a year, in both conflict and nonconflict situations,and injure or disable thousands more.
Illegal possession and use of small arms and light weapons salw cause hundreds of. Small arms and light weapons salw remain cheap and easily accessible instruments for participating in armed conflict, terrorism, and crime. The british american security information council basic is an independent research organization that analyzes international security issues. Type of weapon, quantity, country of origin, condition. Small arms and light weapons in the horn of africa. A ban on small arms and light weapons is unrealistic, given the widespread acceptance of their legitimacy in the hands of militaries and some police forces. Somalia is the quintessential failed state that illustrates the cost of small arms and. Pdf the end of the cold war brought about new security. A light weapon refers to heavy machine guns, handheld underbarrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable launchers of antitank and antiaircraft missile. Small arms and light weapons market internet archive. Though each country has its own laws about small arms and who can obtain them, 1020% of all small arms are obtained illegally chander. All regions of the world are linked in the illicit small arms trade. Manner, illicit small arms and light weapons salw adopted by the united nations general assembly on 8 december 2005 international tracing instrument represents a major contribution towards combating the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and.
The global trade in small arms and light weapons, eds. Illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. Arrangement, the relevant principles and documents of osce and the relevant codes of. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its. The global threat of small arms and light weapons a primer.
An assessment, by manasseh wepundi, eliud nthiga, eliud kabuu, ryan murray, and anna alvazzi del frate, a joint publication of kenya national focus point on small arms and light weapons, and the small arms survey, with support from the ministry of foreign affairs of denmark. Small arms light weapons programme of action on small. Other sources of illegal small arms in circulation include. Although small and light, they cause massive and widespread death and injury. This document does not apply to antique small arms and light weapons, which are defined in accordance with domestic law but in no case include small arms manufactured after 1899. Small arms and light weapons federal foreign office. Small arms and light weapons ipb international peace bureau. According to the small arms survey there are at least 875 million firearms in the world small arms survey, 2007. Overview this publication is a convenient collection of key international instruments relating to the issue of small arms and light weapons at the united nations. The technique of modern warfare is changing gradually and the army is highly inclined towards the use of small arms and light weapons salw. According to the global small arms survey, more than companies from 100 countries worldwide produce small arms and light weapons as well as their ammunition. Small arms and light weapons salw activities aim at regaining control over. Small arms and light weapons salws illegal trafficking.
Feb 24, 2017 according to the global small arms survey, more than companies from 100 countries worldwide produce small arms and light weapons as well as their ammunition. The global trade of small arms and light weapons salw is vigorous and diverse. Specifically, the iti requires states to ensure the marking of all manufactured small arms and light weapons with the name of the manufacturer, the country of manufacture, and a serial number. Availability of small arms and perceptions of security in kenya. Parliamentary action a vital cornerstone for curbing the uncontrolled flow of small arms and light weapons in lebanon the uncontrolled availability and misuse of small arms and light weapons salw have severe consequences across our globe. The destabilizing accumulation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons salw has proven a major obstacle to peace, economic development, and efforts to rebuild wartorn societies. Small arms are responsible for over half a million deaths per year, including 300,000 in armed conflict and 200,000 more from homicides and suicides.
Handbook for the training of armed and security forces anatole ayissi and ibrahima sall editors unidir united nations institute for disarmament research geneva, switzerland. Small arms and light weapons in all its aspects poa. As international arms transfers, particularly of small arms, have become easier the promotion of respect for international humanitarian law has become vastly more difficult. Small arms are the weapons of choice of warring parties government armies, paramilitaries, rebel forces, or even terroristsand in recent wars they account for. The participating states of the organization for security and cooperation in europe osce. Some countries have strict gun laws, while other are undeveloped and lack the infrastructure necessary to produce small arms. In it, governments agreed to take measures to improve national small arms laws import and export controls, to strengthen stockpile management, to ensure that weapons are properly and reliably marked, to. For decades, small arms and light weapons salw 1 have been used to kill and injure people across the world on a massive scale.
According to the united nations office on drugs and crime, the international framework on firearms is composed of three main instruments. Small arms and light weapons ipb international peace. Terrorist groups, insurgents and drug traffickers acquire arms primarily through illegal diversion, theft and smuggling, rather than through. The proliferation of weapons in the hands of new and often undisciplined actors has outpaced efforts to. The programme of action was adopted at the united nations conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects from 920 july 2001. Illicit small arms and light weapons european parliament. Salw have unique characteristics which make them attractive for irregular warfare, terrorism, and criminal activities.
In it, governments agreed to take measures to improve national small arms laws import and export controls, to strengthen stockpile management, to ensure that weapons are properly and reliably marked, to improve cooperation in weapons tracing, and to engage in. Conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects by facilitating a wideranging and wellinformed debate among governments and between governments and civil society. Regulating small arms and light weapons background. Illicit flows of small arms and light weapons undermine security and the rule of law. Encourage respect for arms embargoes, including the criminalization and punishment of violators. Prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons.
Small arms is a subset of the category of light weapons which. Illicit small arms and light weapons page 1 of 24 executive summary small arms and light weapons sa lw are the main tools used in todays conflicts, be they interstate wars, civil wars or the actions of organised crime, and the cause of the majority of deaths from armed violence in the world of combatants, but also, and mainly, of civilians. In addition, the marking of the weapon typemodel, calibre, and year of manufacture is encouraged. Sources of illegal small arms and light weapons include purchases from international and national arms dealers, pilfering from security agencies1, and purchases of locallyproduced craft weapons. The presence and the use of small arms and light weapons have. Post conflict environment generally means cheap prices conflict as a sponge. It is now welldocumented that the proliferation of salw poses a threat to peace and. They are often a factor behind the forced displacement of civilians and massive human rights violations. Fact sheet small arms and light weapons programme of action. Marking and tracing small arms and light weapons salw.
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