What are the humanitarian consequences of the wide availability of small arms and light weapons?
What are the humanitarian consequences of the wide availability of small arms and light weapons?
The proliferation of small arms and light weapons prolongs conflicts, facilitates violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and puts civilians at high risk of death or injury from weapons-related violence. The threat to civilians remains even after armed conflicts have ended.
What small arms do the UN use?
Small arms Included are usually: revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles, and light machine guns.
In which year did the United Nations Security Council adopt the first resolution on small arms and light weapons?
2013
In 1999, the Security Council first addressed the issue of small arms as a standalone agenda item. In 2013, the Council adopted resolution 2117 (2013) on small arms, which focused on the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.
What is the difference between small arms and light weapons?
As a rule of thumb, small arms have a calibre (internal diameter of the barrel) of less than 12.7 mm. So-called light weapons are heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, portable tank and air defence missiles, recoilless rifles, portable rocket launchers and mortars up to a calibre of 100mm.
What are the dangers of small arms proliferation?
The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is recognized as an obstacle to development. In addition to facilitating criminal and armed violence, SALW are used to facilitate sexual and gender-based violence and to reinforce violent, gendered social norms.
What factors are responsible for small arms and light weapons proliferation?
Some of the reasons for the acquisition of small arms and light weapons are:
- The end of Cold War has made it possible for many countries to be able to produce small.
- Economic necessity have forced some countries that are involved in the production of small.
What is a UN Programme of action?
The UN Programme of Action provides the framework for activities to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. It was adopted by all UN member states in 2001. Since that time the UN has worked to support the implementation of the UNPoA at national, regional, and international levels.
What are the action recommended under Programme of action?
Under the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), governments agreed to improve national small arms laws, import/export controls, and stockpile management – and to engage in cooperation and assistance.
Is India a member of UN Arms Trade Treaty?
However, India has not signed the Treaty on the grounds that it is weak on terrorism and non-state actors and these concerns find no mention in the specific prohibitions of the Treaty.
How many small arms are there in the world?
one billion small arms
Global distribution of small arms In 2018, Small Arms Survey reported that there are over one billion small arms distributed globally, of which 857 million (about 85 percent) are in civilian hands.