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Small Arms, Mass Killing | ||
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Around 90% of casualties in armed conflicts around the world are caused not by weapons of mass destruction, expensive fighter aircraft or heavily armoured tanks, but by relatively unsophisticated small arms and light weapons. These include assault rifles, machine guns, handguns and rocket launchers. The vast majority of casualties in modern warfare are civilian. About 40% are children. The light weight of small arms also means that they are relatively easy for children to carry and use. Many children have been pressed into military service against their will in various conflicts. Not only do small weapons contribute to the initiation of violent conflict, they are instrumental in perpetuating it. Their widespread availability can erode negotiated peace settlements, hampering conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction. Where do small arms come from?Some small arms are made in "craft" workshots; others are manufactured on a large scale by major armaments manufacturers. Some are destined for individuals, whilst others are for the military market. They can remain deadly for decades, so it is not only crucial to stop the supply of new weapons, but to remove and destroy those already in circulation. What is being done about small arms?In July 2001, after years of lobbying by humanitarian organisations, UN Member States unanimously adopted the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA), which set a framework under which progress could be made on small arms, although it left a lot to be done. Governments agreed to review the PoA at the UN Small Arms Review Conference in June 2006. When they met to report on implementation of the PoA in 2003 and 2005 it was revealed that they were making very slow progress. The UN Small Arms Preparatory Committee met in January 2006 to decide the agenda of the Review Conference in June 2006, but failed to address key points including national laws to regulate firearms, and the prevention of guns being transferred to places where they might be used to fuel conflict, hinder development, or commit human rights abuses. Further information
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Campaign Against Arms Trade, 11 Goodwin St, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HQ
Tel: +44-(0)20 7281 0297 | Fax: +44-(0)20 7281 4369