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International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)
Press Release
New York, 16 July 2001
"Two Steps Forward, One Step Back"
The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) welcomes
some positive changes in the latest revision of the draft
Program of Action at the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade
in Small Arms. IANSA also welcomes that some key paragraphs
have been retained, but is disappointed at deletions of important
text and remains concerned at some continued significant weaknesses.
Welcome changes
IANSA recognizes the following important new commitments
in the latest draft of the Program of Action:
-
Increased references to the role of civil society in
the preamble
-
Increased emphasis on development, health and humanitarian
concerns and the improved awareness of the needs of women
and children
-
Strengthened provisions for effective disarmament, de-mobilization
and reintegration programs
-
Reference to abiding by international law in decisions
on arms exports
-
Increased commitment to control arms brokering activities
-
New commitments for the follow-up to the Conference
Important continuing commitments
-
The development of an international instrument to identify
and trace lines of supply of small arms
-
Consideration of an international instrument to regulate
arms brokers
-
Agreement of follow-up measures, including a review conference
in 2006 and biennial meetings of states
-
Strong emphasis on stockpile security, weapons collection
and destruction
Disappointing new weaknesses
-
Key provisions for information exchange between governments,
for example the marking of small arms has been made voluntary
-
Commitments to public transparency have been significantly
weakened
-
In the follow-up section, reference to the need for governments
to engage NGOs as partners has been dropped
Continuing significant omissions
There are a number of areas which are still absent in
the text despite the fact that civil society has continually
highlighted the importance of these issues:
-
Governments continue to ignore the imperative of protecting
human rights and there is no reference to this in the
draft Program of Action
-
There is no commitment to international criteria governing
arms exports based on human rights standards and international
humanitarian law
-
There is no specific commitment to start negotiations
on an international instrument on arms brokering
-
States continue to block effective controls on the possession
of arms by civilians
"If these pressing concerns are not addressed the conference
will not alleviate the human suffering caused by gun violence.
We have no time to waste and we are concerned that a group
of countries seem intent on blocking progress. The responsibility
lies with all governments to deliver an effective Program
of Action," said by Sally Joss of IANSA.
For more information contact Tricia O'Rourke on 1-917-751-9429.
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