Disarmament

Issues

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)

It is estimated that 600 million small arms and light weapons are in use and that they are the cause of up to 500.000 deaths a year, 300.000 thereof in armed conflict. In the last decade of last century these were the principal weapon used in 47 out of 49 major conflicts.  

The UN Conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons, held in New York in July 2001, adopted a Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN Programme of Action - UNPoA). Relevant legal instruments include:

• UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000)
• Protocol, to the 2000 UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (2001)
• See also Arms Trade Treaty

Iceland supports international measures against illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons.

Links

SALW

 Updated: 08/10   |     Send comments here     |     Abbreviations