Assistance of States in Curbing the Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons

1. Assistance of States in Curbing the Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons By: Justin Rhee (Chair) CDIS

2. Introduction “The illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and ammunition wreaks havoc everywhere. Mobs terrorizing a neighborhood. Rebels attacking civilians or peacekeepers. Drug lords randomly killing law enforcers or anyone else interfering with their illegal businesses. Bandits hijacking humanitarian aid convoys. In all continents, uncontrolled small arms form a persisting problem.” – The UNODA (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs)

3. Definition of Key Terms Trafficking: ”Deal or trade in something illegal.” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary Small Arms: ”…weapons designed for individual use. They include, inter alia, revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns.” - UN Small Arms Review Conference (2006) • Light Weapons: • ” …weapons designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be carried and used by a single person. They include, inter alia, heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a caliber of less than 100 millimeters.” • UN Small Arms Review Conference (2006) Curb: “To check or control with or as if with a curb (an enclosing frame, border, or edging).” - Merriam-Webster Dictionary

4. Topic Overview To paraphrase the UNODA, small arms (and light weapons) are a primary threat to public and international security due to their easy accessibility. These weapons are cheap, simple to maintain and use, and can be painlessly transported and concealed. Though small-arms alone pose no international crisis; when considering their accumulation, illegal trafficking, and common-usage for violence, the issue becomes clear. In a modern-age, most conflicts are fought with small arms – so the illegal trafficking of both small arms and light weapons directly facilitates terrorism, organized crimes, and gang warfare.

5. Nations Involved The key issue behind the illegal smuggling of small arms and light weapons is the full-ranging global reach of the issue • Practically all nations in the world are involved in the illegal smuggling of arms (primarily noting the people of poorer nations who have no other access to such weapons) • The specific sale and trafficking of arms across-borders fluctuates alongside existent local and cross-regional conflicts Due to trending direct correlations, it may be useful to note that (legally) the US is the largest exporter and importer of small arms • (approximately 8.5 billion dollars annual revenue)

6. UN Involvement • July 2001 – The UN establishes the “Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects” (unanimously adopted) • The PoA does not concern itself with legal armament, but instead weapons acquired via illegal means • June 2006 – A follow-up review conference is held by the UN to track the progress of the initial program • The UNODA has recorded approximately 22 General Assembly Resolutions and Secretary General Reports – all on the topic of the illicit trade and trafficking of small arms and/or light weapons

7. Possible Solutions • Delegates should seek solutions on both-sides of the trafficking process – that is, measures restricting those supplying and receiving the illegal arms • Remember that the question isn’t regarding the restriction of firearms (or at least those acquired legally), so reinforcing standard gun-laws doesn’t necessarily fall under this issue • Since the question focuses on “assistance of states…”, delegates should be seeking ways through which nations can easily support countries for which this is a primary concern – for example: supporting development and frequency of security-checkpoints along borders, tightening of examination in areas of civilian areas, etc… • Trafficking is a primarily cross-border issue, so – as always – delegates must seek solutions that are not only internationally appealing, but sustainably applicable

8. Additional Sources: • http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/index.html • http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2011/arms-control/201103-photostory/EN/index.htm • http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/121127/america-guns-export-import-regulation-small-arms • http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/SALW/ • http://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-council-agenda/small-arms-and-light-weapons.html

9. Image Sources: • http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs9/f/2006/019/d/a/Bullet_Wallpaper_1280x1024_Update.png • http://pavelnovel.com/lesscrime/gun-made-out-of-guns/ • http://www.komu.com/images/news/gun.jpg • http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/023/8/4/bullets_by_alkapon-d37lans.jpg • http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Money-Gun.jpg • http://thetruthnews.info/un_gun.jpg • http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01368/Burning-guns-kenya_1368426i.jpg