international small arms control standards

1. International Small Arms Control Standards

2. Established in 1998 by UNSG Kofi Annan A �disarmament priority� of UNSG Ban Ki-Moon Goal: Enable an effective, �whole of UN� response to SALW proliferation & misuse Comprises 17 UN bodies Establishment of CASA 'welcomed' by UNGA resolution 53/77 E of 4 December 1998. SG Ban Ki-moon made strengthening CASA a �disarmament priority� in his 2008 report on small arms to the Security CouncilEstablishment of CASA 'welcomed' by UNGA resolution 53/77 E of 4 December 1998. SG Ban Ki-moon made strengthening CASA a �disarmament priority� in his 2008 report on small arms to the Security Council

3. Strategic Objectives of CASA To effectively contribute to the implementation of existing small arms instruments: the Firearms Protocol, the Programme of Action, the International Tracing Instrument To ensure coordinated inputs by the UN system into the Arms Trade Treaty process To develop and maintain International Small Arms Control Standards To advance coordinated approaches to armed violence prevention To enhance the work of the United Nations Security Council related to small arms CASA is currently finalising a 5-year strategic plan covering the following 5 objectivesCASA is currently finalising a 5-year strategic plan covering the following 5 objectives

4. The time is right SALW over a decade on the International agenda Large body of research Projects implemented in more than 50 countries Extensive action at regional level 3 global agreements SALW on agenda since UNSG Boutros Boutros-Ghali introduced the concept of �micro disarmament� in his 1995 �Supplement to An Agenda for Peace.� In sum: The issue of SALW has reached a level of maturity that makes it possible to develop global control standards. At the level of understanding, we possess extensive knowledge of the scope and anatomy of the problem. At the level of programming, we have accumulated invaluable experience of what does and does not work in addressing it. SALW on agenda since UNSG Boutros Boutros-Ghali introduced the concept of �micro disarmament� in his 1995 �Supplement to An Agenda for Peace.� In sum: The issue of SALW has reached a level of maturity that makes it possible to develop global control standards. At the level of understanding, we possess extensive knowledge of the scope and anatomy of the problem. At the level of programming, we have accumulated invaluable experience of what does and does not work in addressing it.

5. The Goal A set of internationally accepted and validated standards providing comprehensive guidance to practitioners and policy makers on fundamental aspects of small arms control

6. Main Benefits Enable the United Nations to �deliver as one� on SALW policy and programming Improve the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SALW control programmes by all stakeholders Help to disseminate knowledge and effective practices globally Establish an agreed level of performance within the global SALW community of practice (and provide it with a common vocabulary) Help to identify capacity-building needs and to evaluate the effectiveness of assistance programmes Establish a set of benchmarks against which to measure the implementation of global SALW agreements Provide a basis for the development of national small arms control standards

7. Main Beneficiaries People affected by the misuse of SALW The United Nations SALW policymakers and practitioners UN Member States The small arms industry People affected by the misuse of SALW: The primary beneficiaries of ISACS will be people all over the world who live in fear of their lives, as well as those of family and loved ones, because of the easy availability and widespread misuse of SALW. Because ISACS will contribute to making SALW control more effective across the board, they will make a significant contribution to reducing the burden of armed violence felt by millions of people around the world. The United Nations: By strengthening coordination and establishing an agreed level of performance for UN bodies, ISACS will enable the United Nations to �deliver as one� on SALW control both at the programmatic and policymaking levels. SALW policymakers and practitioners: whether they work with the United Nations, government agencies, international/regional organizations or NGOs, will benefit from having access to a set of internationally agreed and validated standards that will provide them with guidance on fundamental aspects of SALW control. As well as helping to improve the overall level of performance of individual actors, these standards will also facilitate cooperation among actors, especially in the field. UN Member States: By providing a clear set of voluntary, technically validated, international standards on small arms control, this project will provide valuable guidance to UN Member States on the implementation of their commitments under the UN Programme of Action, the International Tracing Instrument and, where applicable, the Firearms Protocol. The Small Arms Industry: International standards on small arms control will also benefit the small arms industry by helping to curb the illicit trade in SALW, which undermines the legal small arms trade to the tune of about one billion US dollars a year. In addition, clear international standards on such things as marking, record-keeping, end-use certification, etc. would provide industry with a transparent framework for action and a more level playing field on which to operate. People affected by the misuse of SALW: The primary beneficiaries of ISACS will be people all over the world who live in fear of their lives, as well as those of family and loved ones, because of the easy availability and widespread misuse of SALW. Because ISACS will contribute to making SALW control more effective across the board, they will make a significant contribution to reducing the burden of armed violence felt by millions of people around the world. The United Nations: By strengthening coordination and establishing an agreed level of performance for UN bodies, ISACS will enable the United Nations to �deliver as one� on SALW control both at the programmatic and policymaking levels. SALW policymakers and practitioners: whether they work with the United Nations, government agencies, international/regional organizations or NGOs, will benefit from having access to a set of internationally agreed and validated standards that will provide them with guidance on fundamental aspects of SALW control. As well as helping to improve the overall level of performance of individual actors, these standards will also facilitate cooperation among actors, especially in the field. UN Member States: By providing a clear set of voluntary, technically validated, international standards on small arms control, this project will provide valuable guidance to UN Member States on the implementation of their commitments under the UN Programme of Action, the International Tracing Instrument and, where applicable, the Firearms Protocol. The Small Arms Industry: International standards on small arms control will also benefit the small arms industry by helping to curb the illicit trade in SALW, which undermines the legal small arms trade to the tune of about one billion US dollars a year. In addition, clear international standards on such things as marking, record-keeping, end-use certification, etc. would provide industry with a transparent framework for action and a more level playing field on which to operate.

9. Project Phases Phase 1 2 years (Oct. 2008 - Sept. 2010) Drafting, consultation and presentation of ISACS Phase 2 1 year (Oct. 2010 - Sept. 2011) Translation, dissemination, awareness-raising, training Phase 3 Ongoing from Oct. 2011 Periodic review, updating, supplementing, assessment

10. Possible contributions from the mine action community Lessons already drawn from IMAS development process Possible overlaps with mine action expertise, e.g. Public awareness campaigns (04.30) Ammunition stockpile management (05.21) Ammunition destruction (05.51), etc. Participation by mine action professionals on the ISACS Expert Reference Group would be beneficial UNMAS (Noel Mulliner) and GICHD (Faiz Paktian and Sandra Velasco) participated in the November 2008 consultation on ISACS and provided valuable advice based on the experience of developing IMAS. On SALW ammunition stockpile management (ISACS module 05.21), CASA has decided to put this module on ice until a separate UN process, mandated by the General Assembly in 2008, has developed technical guidelines on conventional ammunition stockpile management. The same applies to ISACS module 03.20 on �national controls over the international transfer of SALW,� which is the subject of a separate UN process leading towards a legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty. A good entry-point to the ISACS project for mine action expertise would be the Expert Reference Group (ERG), which will be responsible for reviewing and providing critical feedback on draft ISACS modules. Terms of Reference for the ERG will be circulated shortlyUNMAS (Noel Mulliner) and GICHD (Faiz Paktian and Sandra Velasco) participated in the November 2008 consultation on ISACS and provided valuable advice based on the experience of developing IMAS. On SALW ammunition stockpile management (ISACS module 05.21), CASA has decided to put this module on ice until a separate UN process, mandated by the General Assembly in 2008, has developed technical guidelines on conventional ammunition stockpile management. The same applies to ISACS module 03.20 on �national controls over the international transfer of SALW,� which is the subject of a separate UN process leading towards a legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty. A good entry-point to the ISACS project for mine action expertise would be the Expert Reference Group (ERG), which will be responsible for reviewing and providing critical feedback on draft ISACS modules. Terms of Reference for the ERG will be circulated shortly

11. For more information Patrick Mc Carthy Project Coordinator International Small Arms Control Standards C/O UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (Geneva Branch) Phone: +41 22 917 2387 Fax: +41 22 917 0034 coordinator@un-casa-isacs.org