UN Issues Report on Controlling the Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons

On February 7, 2005, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a report on efforts to implement recommendations of the Secretary-General on ways and means in which the Security Council could contribute to dealing with illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in situations under its consideration. The report notes that much progress has been achieved in some key areas, such as the efforts to strengthen cooperation to enable States to trace illicit small arms and light weapons, the systematic establishment of monitoring mechanisms to support the implementation of sanctions and the adoption of more vigorous measures against violations of arms embargoes. The report states action must be taken in a number of areas, especially interaction between the Security Council and the General Assembly on the issue of small arms and light weapons, support for the Small Arms Advisory Service and support for the reintegration of former combatants into their communities...[more]