III. Control measures on small arms and light weapons

Chapter:

9. Global instruments for conventional arms control

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2019

Author(s):

Ian Davies

In 2001 states adopted the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN POA), which outlines the steps that should be taken at the international, regional and national levels to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW).¹ In 2005 states adopted the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (the International Tracing Instrument, ITI), which outlines the steps states should take in the fields of weapons marking and record-keeping. The UN POA and the ITI are politically binding instruments administered by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) that were negotiated on the basis of consensus under the auspices of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. They combine to form a set of normative standards that details the steps states need to take in order to combat diversion at all stages of the life cycle of SALW.² The UN POA and the ITI lack effective verification measures, but states are encouraged to report on their implementation of the UN POA and the ITI every two years using an online reporting template developed by UNODA. States also meet at a Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) to ‘consider’ implementation of both instruments and at six-yearly review conferences (RevCons) that allow for a more in-depth assessment of the ‘progress made’ on implementation.