Be one in a million against global small arms trade

Idea exchange
June 2006

Be one in a million against global small arms trade
By unanimously adopting the UN Programme of Action to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (UNPoA) in 2001, the UN Member States committed to collecting and destroying illegal weapons, adopting and/or improving national legislations that would help criminalize the illicit trade in small arms, regulating the activities of brokers, setting strict import and export controls, taking action against violators of such laws, and better coordinating international efforts to that end.

Five years after the adoption of the UNPoA, representatives from governments, international and regional organizations, and civil society will meet at UN Headquarters from 26 June to 7 July 2006 to review the efforts and progress made at all levels; to address future international cooperation and assistance issues; and to assess challenges on the road ahead.

A recent report from the Control Arms Campaign argues that the UN needs to be doing a lot more to restrain the small arms market. In fact, the CAC says lack of controls on the arms trade is fuelling conflict, poverty, and human rights abuses worldwide. Every government is responsible. The Control Arms Campaign is asking governments to toughen up controls on the arms trade.

Its Million Faces petition is collecting photos and self portraits from around the world to reach our goal of one million faces by June 2006 to submit to the UN conference. The CAC hopes to use these faces to send a powerful, global message of support to the world's governments for an International Arms Trade Treaty.

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