![]() ![]() Public buy-in and ownership of security sector reforms and policy will be crucial to this objective. It is vital that we seek to translate it into initiatives that will make a direct difference to the lives of ordinary people across Africa. The UK would also like to take this moment to commend the African Union’s goal of Silencing the Guns by 2020. The Western Balkans roadmap, which is currently being implemented, is an excellent plan of action for that region and highlighted transferable lessons to be taken forward. The challenge for illicit small arms and light weapons, is a global one which requires international cooperation and action but we must also recognise that different regions face different challenges.The UK has been a consistent supporter of regional approaches in this area. ![]() Without sufficient consideration being given to efficient management of small arms and light weapons and associated ammunition is the harm caused by their mismanagement. However, the UK is concerned that arms embargoes are often lifted for political reasons. We welcome the emphasis on the SG’s report on the need for flexibility and agree that arms embargoes should respond to changing contexts. I would like to take this opportunity to underline the importance of respect for and implementation of the arms embargoes that this council has agreed. Mr President, we welcome the language in the SG report on Arms embargoes, which are a crucial tool in tackling the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons to many of the complex on this council’s agenda. We continue to encourage all States that have not yet done so to make ratification an accession a national priority. Universalisation of the treaty, coupled with full implementation of its robust provisions, remains a priority for the UK. We reiterate our full support for the Arms Trade Treaty, a key multilateral tool in addressing the illicit trade and small arms and light weapons through its object and purpose: to create a well-regulated, legal trade in conventional arms. There is also important work to be done elsewhere. We hope that this GGE will achieve tangible results addressing a long neglected problem in conventional arms control. The UK is also proud to participate this year in the Group of Governmental Experts on ‘Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus’. And we look forward to fruitful discussions through the course of the Seventh Biennial Meeting of States later this year. The UN Programme of Action is a key forum for international action and policy coordination. President, international cooperation in this area is vital. For example, the ‘Modular Small Arms Control Implementation Compendium’ and the ‘International Ammunition Technical Guidelines’ provide international best practice in physical security and stockpile management, and should be considered a consistently in UN. In his work, the UN must take into account existing guidance. ![]() I’d like to take this opportunity to commend the work of ODA and join the High Representative, in underlining the importance of the role of peacekeeping missions and SPMs in this area in line with their mandates. There is no one size fits all solution, and to achieve real progress in this area, it is crucial that we bring on board all stakeholders, including the full and active participation of women in the disarmament community.Īs the High Representative has set out this morning, the UN is carrying out considerable work to tackle the illicit spread of small arms and light weapons. The UN has an important role to play in supporting efforts to address illicit flows of small arms. While small arms and light weapons have a legitimate role in ensuring defence and security, their diversion and misuse cost hundreds of thousands of lives every year, undermine security and sustainable development and fuel conflict, crime and terrorism. President, millions of people around the world are impacted directly or indirectly by the diversion of arms and illicit arms transfers. And thank you very much also to our two briefers this morning. ![]()
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