Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms on Light Weapons

The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) marked a watershed in the fight against the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW). States agreed to a wide-ranging set of common commitments and established a follow-up process that encourages all countries to exchange information on progress made. In 2003, 103 out of 191 UN member states submitted national reports on their implementation of the PoA to the UN Secretary-General through the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs and presented to the First Biennial Meeting of States (BMS). The reports vary widely in terms of length, level of detail and the themes addressed. While a handful of states submitted only brief letters that reiterated their support for the PoA, others sought to address almost all aspects of the PoA. It became evident form the format of some reports that the reporting assistance package that had been developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs (UNDDA) and United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in cooperation with the Small Arms Survey, as well as the USA's matrix blueprint were beneficial in guiding states in the preparation of their national reports. This study is intended to complement a larger project by UNDP, UNIDIR and UN DDA, entitled "Capacity Development for Reporting to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms", which provides guidelines and a suggested template for reporting on the implementation measures of the PoA. The goal of the study is to ascertain current levels of state commitment to the PoA by reviewing the various national initiatives underway and also to highlight the strengths and gaps of the reporting process.