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==Definition by international legal conventions== ==Definition by international legal conventions==
According to the ], the international framework on firearms is composed of three main instruments: the ], the ] (Programme of Action, or PoA) and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (International Tracing Instrument, or ITI), where only the Firearms Protocol is legally binding.


The ITI, adopted by the ] on 8 December 2005, defines small arms and light weapons as:<ref name=UNODC-ITI>{{cite web |url=http://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/Firearms/ITI.pdf |title=International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapon |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=February 25, 2013 |website=unodc.org |publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |accessdate=February 14, 2014}}</ref>
These definitions may vary depending on the convention and on the expansion of the term's use over time with the introduction of new weapons technologies and concerns. For example:

{{quote|SALW include all arms that can be used by one person alone and all associated ammunition, including grenades, rockets, missiles, mortar shells and man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), and that ]s can be considered as having similar effects,

Recalling that items such as daggers, machetes, clubs, spears, and bows and arrows are also frequently used in armed conflicts and criminal acts, and that, although they do not fall under the SALW category, their use may need to be regulated,

Recalling also that the definition of SALW should not include swords, daggers, and other items which are not firearms and are not used to cause bodily harm, but as part of the national dress,

Deeply concerned also by the high political, social and financial costs incurred when SALW fuel armed conflict, armed criminality and terrorism, exacerbate violence, contribute to the displacement of civilians, undermine respect for international humanitarian law, impede the provision of humanitarian assistance to victims of armed conflict, and hinder a return to peace and sustainable development,

Recognizing the threat posed to civilian aviation, peacekeeping, crisis management and security by the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of MANPADS,

Affirming that combating the proliferation and misuse of SALW requires coherent and comprehensive efforts by governmental and other players at the international, regional and national levels....<ref name=THE-ROLE-OF-PARLIAMENTS-IN-STRENGTHENING-CONTROL-OF-TRAFFICING-IN-SALW> IPU, Nairobi, Kenya, 12 May 2006</ref>}}

Thus, SALW include grenades, but does not include bows and arrows according to this convention.

The International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons,<ref name=Intl-Instrument>{{cite web|title=International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapon|url=http://disarmament.un.org/cab/Markingandtracing/ITI_English.pdf}}</ref> adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 2005 defines small arms and light weapons as:


{{quote|any man-portable lethal weapon that expels or launches, is designed to expel or launch, or may be readily converted to expel or launch a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive, excluding antique small arms and light weapons or their replicas. Antique small arms and light weapons and their replicas will be defined in accordance with domestic law. In no case will antique small arms and light weapons include those manufactured after 1899: {{quote|any man-portable lethal weapon that expels or launches, is designed to expel or launch, or may be readily converted to expel or launch a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive, excluding antique small arms and light weapons or their replicas. Antique small arms and light weapons and their replicas will be defined in accordance with domestic law. In no case will antique small arms and light weapons include those manufactured after 1899:
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assault rifles and light machine guns; assault rifles and light machine guns;


(b) “Light weapons” are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be carried and used by a single person. They include, inter alia, general purpose or universal machine guns, medium machine guns, heavy machine guns, rifle grenades, under-barrel grenade launchers and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, man portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, man portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a calibre of less than 100 millimetres.<ref name=Intl-Instrument />}} (b) “Light weapons” are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be carried and used by a single person. They include, inter alia, general purpose or universal machine guns, medium machine guns, heavy machine guns, rifle grenades, under-barrel grenade launchers and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, man portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, man portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a calibre of less than 100 millimetres.<ref name=UNODC-ITI />}}


Such ] policies and treaties are focused on international ] (importation and export), and in the standardization of laws, protocols and sharing of law enforcement information and best practices across nations to prevent illicit arms sales. They also focus on terrorism, arms proliferation as a humanitarian concern, disarmament in the face of extreme violence, and cases of ameliorating anarchy, civil war and international conflict. SALW provisions are generally not oriented towards imposing or enforcing domestic national or local legislation of legitimate gun ownership or sale.<ref name=UN-DEPT-DISARMAMENT-AFFAIRS> UN Office for Disarmament Affairs</ref> Such ] policies and treaties are focused on international ] (importation and export), and in the standardization of laws, protocols and sharing of law enforcement information and best practices across nations to prevent illicit arms sales. They also focus on terrorism, arms proliferation as a humanitarian concern, disarmament in the face of extreme violence, and cases of ameliorating anarchy, civil war and international conflict. SALW provisions are generally not oriented towards imposing or enforcing domestic national or local legislation of legitimate gun ownership or sale.<ref name=UNODA-SALW>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/SALW/ |title=UNODA: Small Arms and Light Weapons |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2013 |website=un.org |publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs |accessdate=February 14, 2014}}</ref>


==UN SALW control efforts== ==UN SALW control efforts==
] ]


Small arms and light weapons are used to cause many deaths in conflicts around the world.<ref name=SALW-Control>{{cite web|url=http://www.unddr.org/iddrs/04/11.php|title=4.11 SALW Control, Security & Development|accessdate=19 May 2011}}</ref> Small arms control was first broached by UN Resolution A/RES/46/36 (December 1991), which was expanded upon by A/RES/50/70 (January 1996).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/depts/ddar/Register/Resolutions/5070.htm|title=A/RES/50/70 D|accessdate=19 May 2011}}</ref> This latter resolution mandated a panel of experts to research the type of small arms and light weapons being used in the world's conflicts and to study which weapons might apply to fall under an arms control regime. The recommendations of expert reports returned to the General Assembly, A/52/298 (1997) and A/54/258 (1999)<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, 1999|url=http://www.un-casa.org/CASAUpload/ELibrary/1999%20GGE.pdf}}</ref> led to a July 2001 ], with a follow-up in July 2006. Small arms and light weapons are used to cause many deaths in conflicts around the world.<ref name=SALW-Control>{{cite web|url=http://www.unddr.org/iddrs/04/11.php|title=4.11 SALW Control, Security & Development|accessdate=19 May 2011}}</ref> Small arms control was first broached by UN Resolution A/RES/46/36 (December 1991), which was expanded upon by A/RES/50/70 (January 1996).<ref name=UNRes5070>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/depts/ddar/Register/Resolutions/5070.htm |title= General and complete disarmament: Transparency in armaments |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 15, 1996 |website=un.org |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=May 19, 2011}}</ref> This latter resolution mandated a panel of experts to research the type of small arms and light weapons being used in the world's conflicts and to study which weapons might apply to fall under an arms control regime. The recommendations of expert reports returned to the General Assembly, A/52/298 (1997) and A/54/258 (1999)<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, 1999|url=http://www.un-casa.org/CASAUpload/ELibrary/1999%20GGE.pdf}}</ref> led to a July 2001 ], with a follow-up in July 2006.


On 26 September 2013 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2117, which urged nations to remain committed to small arms embargoes and SALW control protocols.<ref>{{cite web|title=Resolution 2117 (2013)|url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2117%282013%29}}</ref> On 26 September 2013 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2117, which urged nations to remain committed to small arms embargoes and SALW control protocols.<ref name=UNRes2117>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/2117%282013%29 |title=Resolution 2117 (2013) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 26, 2013 |website=un.org |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=February 14, 2014}}</ref>


Work on SALW via the United Nations is coordinated by the (ODA or UNODA), though the UN Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) mechanism, which comprises 21 UN departments and agencies working on different aspects of small arms and light weapons control.<ref>{{cite web|title=CASA Participants|url=http://www.un-casa.org/SecCASAMEMBER/MembersOfCasa.aspx}}</ref> The ] (UNIDIR), carries out research in arms control affairs and has published many articles and books related to small arms and light weapons.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNIDIR selected publications and activities related to small arms|url=http://www.unidir.ch/bdd/focus-search.php?onglet=5}}</ref> Work on SALW via the United Nations is coordinated by the ] (UNODA), though the UN Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) mechanism, which comprises 21 UN departments and agencies working on different aspects of small arms and light weapons control.<ref>{{cite web|title=CASA Participants|url=http://www.un-casa.org/SecCASAMEMBER/MembersOfCasa.aspx}}</ref> The ] (UNIDIR), carries out research in arms control affairs and has published many articles and books related to small arms and light weapons.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNIDIR selected publications and activities related to small arms|url=http://www.unidir.ch/bdd/focus-search.php?onglet=5}}</ref>


On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to govern the sale, stockpiling and trafficking of many types of weapons, from warships and aircraft to small arms and light weapons.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Arms Trade Treaty|url=http://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/}}</ref> The treaty opened for signature on 3 June 2013. By October 2013, over half the member states had signed the treaty (113 states), though only 7 member states had as yet ratified it. On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the ] (ATT) to govern the sale, stockpiling and trafficking of many types of weapons, from warships and aircraft to small arms and light weapons.<ref name=UN-ATT>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/ |title=The Arms Trade Treaty |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2013 |website=un.org |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=February 14, 2014}}</ref> The treaty opened for signature on 3 June 2013. By October 2013, over half the member states had signed the treaty (113 states), though only 7 member states had as yet ratified it.


⚫ ==Other SALW control organizations==
===Controversy over the UN Arms Trade Treaty===
In the United States, conservative gun rights advocates, including elected members of Congress and lobbyists, such as the ] have maintained a political campaign to discredit the Arms Trade Treaty, saying that through the treaty the U.N. would deprive the U.S. of its national sovereignty, and deprive its citizens of their Second Amendment right to bear arms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawmaker Blasts Obama Administration’s Signing Of UN Gun Control Law – OpEd|url=http://www.albanytribune.com/14102013-lawmaker-blasts-obama-administrations-signing-un-gun-control-law-oped/}}</ref> However, the rumor-dispelling site Snopes.com has refuted such claims as false.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.N. Arms Trade Treaty|url=http://www.albanytribune.com/14102013-lawmaker-blasts-obama-administrations-signing-un-gun-control-law-oped/}}</ref> In the Preamble of the Arms Trade Treaty, the sixth paragraph reads, "Reaffirming the sovereign right of any State to regulate and control conventional arms exclusively within its territory, pursuant to its own legal or constitutional system," which contradicts the assertion the treaty intends to violate any lawful internal rights of any member State. Instead, the treaty is aimed at curbing illegal arms sales within countries or between countries, and to improve controls for the trafficking and stockpiling of military arms and weapon systems.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Arms Trade Treaty|url=http://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/2013/04/20130410%2012-01%20PM/Ch_XXVI_08.pdf#page=21}}</ref>


⚫ Many other related governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also work on SALW control, major examples being ] and the ]. Regional and sub-regional organizations working on SALW control include the ], ], the ] (ECOWAS), ], ], ], ], ] (OAS), ], the ], ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poa-iss.org/RegionalOrganizations/RegionalOrganizations.aspx |title=PoA-ISS: Regional Organizations |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2014 |website=poa-iss.org |publisher=United Nations |accessdate=February 14, 2014}}</ref>
⚫ ==Other SALW control regimes and organizations==

⚫ Many other related governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also work on SALW control, major examples being ] and the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.controlarms.org/|title=Control Arms Campaign|accessdate=19 May 2011}}</ref> Regional and sub-regional organizations working on SALW control include the ], ], the ] (ECOWAS), ], ], ], ], ] (OAS), ], the ], ], the ], and the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=PoA-ISS: Regional Organizations|url=http://www.poa-iss.org/RegionalOrganizations/RegionalOrganizations.aspx}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]


==Notes== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist|2}}


==References== ==External links==
⚫ * at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
* at United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA)
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ * United Nations Programme of Action, Implementation Support System
*
⚫ *
*
⚫ * at South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)
* *
* *
* *
⚫ * on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies
⚫ *
⚫ *


==External links==
*
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *
*


{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2012}}

Revision as of 17:43, 15 February 2014

The AK-47, the most ubiquitous automatic weapon in the world

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is a term used in arms control protocols to refer to two main classes of weapons:

The U.S. Army defines small arms/light weapons (SA/LW) as: "Handguns, shoulder-fired weapons, light automatic weapons up to and including 50 caliber machine guns, recoilless rifles up to and including 106mm, mortars up to and including 81mm, man-portable rocket launchers, rifle-/shoulder-fired grenade launchers, and individually operated weapons that are portable or can be fired without special mounts or firing devices and that have potential use in civil disturbances and are vulnerable to theft."

Definition by international legal conventions

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the international framework on firearms is composed of three main instruments: the Firearms Protocol, the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (Programme of Action, or PoA) and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (International Tracing Instrument, or ITI), where only the Firearms Protocol is legally binding.

The ITI, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 2005, defines small arms and light weapons as:

any man-portable lethal weapon that expels or launches, is designed to expel or launch, or may be readily converted to expel or launch a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of an explosive, excluding antique small arms and light weapons or their replicas. Antique small arms and light weapons and their replicas will be defined in accordance with domestic law. In no case will antique small arms and light weapons include those manufactured after 1899:

(a) “Small arms” are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for individual use. They include, inter alia, revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, sub-machine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns;

(b) “Light weapons” are, broadly speaking, weapons designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be carried and used by a single person. They include, inter alia, general purpose or universal machine guns, medium machine guns, heavy machine guns, rifle grenades, under-barrel grenade launchers and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, man portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, man portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a calibre of less than 100 millimetres.

Such arms control policies and treaties are focused on international arms trafficking (importation and export), and in the standardization of laws, protocols and sharing of law enforcement information and best practices across nations to prevent illicit arms sales. They also focus on terrorism, arms proliferation as a humanitarian concern, disarmament in the face of extreme violence, and cases of ameliorating anarchy, civil war and international conflict. SALW provisions are generally not oriented towards imposing or enforcing domestic national or local legislation of legitimate gun ownership or sale.

UN SALW control efforts

Small arms and light weapons are used to cause many deaths in conflicts around the world. Small arms control was first broached by UN Resolution A/RES/46/36 (December 1991), which was expanded upon by A/RES/50/70 (January 1996). This latter resolution mandated a panel of experts to research the type of small arms and light weapons being used in the world's conflicts and to study which weapons might apply to fall under an arms control regime. The recommendations of expert reports returned to the General Assembly, A/52/298 (1997) and A/54/258 (1999) led to a July 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms, with a follow-up in July 2006.

On 26 September 2013 the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2117, which urged nations to remain committed to small arms embargoes and SALW control protocols.

Work on SALW via the United Nations is coordinated by the Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), though the UN Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) mechanism, which comprises 21 UN departments and agencies working on different aspects of small arms and light weapons control. The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), carries out research in arms control affairs and has published many articles and books related to small arms and light weapons.

On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to govern the sale, stockpiling and trafficking of many types of weapons, from warships and aircraft to small arms and light weapons. The treaty opened for signature on 3 June 2013. By October 2013, over half the member states had signed the treaty (113 states), though only 7 member states had as yet ratified it.

Other SALW control organizations

Many other related governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also work on SALW control, major examples being IANSA and the Control Arms Campaign. Regional and sub-regional organizations working on SALW control include the African Union, ECCAS, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Southern African Development Community, Andean Community, CARICOM, MERCOSUR, Organization of American States (OAS), European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, ASEAN, the League of Arab States, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

See also

References

  1. "Inventory Management Asset and Transaction Reporting System: Summary of Change". www.apd.army.mil. Army Publishing Directorate. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  2. ^ "International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapon" (PDF). unodc.org. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. "UNODA: Small Arms and Light Weapons". un.org. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  4. "4.11 SALW Control, Security & Development". Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  5. "General and complete disarmament: Transparency in armaments". un.org. United Nations. 15 January 1996. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  6. "Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, 1999" (PDF).
  7. "Resolution 2117 (2013)". un.org. United Nations. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. "CASA Participants".
  9. "UNIDIR selected publications and activities related to small arms".
  10. "The Arms Trade Treaty". un.org. United Nations. 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. "PoA-ISS: Regional Organizations". poa-iss.org. United Nations. 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

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