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WFSA News and Information



July 2006

July 12, 2006

After the SALW Review Conference

The Small Arms and Light Weapons Review Conference ended in New York on July 7.

The conference marked the latest stage in a process that was begun around 1995. At this time the United Nations began to show increased interest in the broad matters of civilian firearms ownership.

In 2001, the Programme of Action began, with the stated view to restrict the illicit arms trade. The Review Conference had been heavily publicized by opponents of gun ownership as bringing the possibility of a binding international treaty with UN enforcement.

The conference, closing as it did with no plan for follow-up conferences and no formal agreement, has drawn considerable commentary from a variety of sources.

In Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald has railed against the USA for its role in refusing to bow to calls for two further conferences, labelling US representatives "noisy wreckers" and "zealots". (SMH.com)

Cuba, India, Pakistan, Russia, India, and Iran also voted against the proposals to create a final document.

The Sydney Morning Herald concedes that criminal misuse of firearms comes through poor management of military arsenals, and through illegal sales.

Working from the Independence Institute in Colorado, USA, scholar David Kopel writes:

The back-up plan of the international gun prohibition movement, and their many allies within the U.N. and national U.N. delegations, was to give up on significant progress in 2006, but to keep the game going with future conferences, when a more pliant U.S. administration might welcome an international gun control program.

Kopel argues (Volokh.com) that the intended prohibition of gun transfers to "non-state actors" would have meant a ban on ownership of firearms by worthy groups, such as those resisting tyranny and genocide. He also says:

The international gun prohibition lobbies are already looking towards other international fora where they can advance their goals, including their ultimate prize - a binding treaty requiring severe restriction of citizen gun possession.

The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) in a press release says the meeting was "hijacked by a small number of states, notably the US", and has "failed to address the global gun crisis". IANSA Director Rebecca Peters says:

The failure of this meeting will not detract from the enormous amount of work being done at local, national and regional levels around the world to protect people from gun violence. But because gun proliferation is a global problem it does require a global solution, and we will continue to seek ways to make this happen.

The Guardian carried an article stating:

The small arms trade is not subject to a comprehensive global agreement. Instead, there is a patchwork of national export laws, which unscrupulous arms dealers can easily circumvent. As a result, small arms fall into the wrong hands every day.

As matters now stand, the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is reported as expressing disappointment at the failure of the Conference to reach an agreement (Gulf Daily News). UN General Assembly will probably be asked as early as the end of this year to consider an international arms trade treaty, to be anchored in states' existing responsibilities, and involving human rights and humanitarian law. The aim would be to produce a legally binding instrument.

The belief still prevails throughout much of the media that world trade in small arms is for all practical purposes unregulated. In fact, import and export regulations already heavily govern sporting and civilian arms manufacturers.



July 9, 2006

2006 -- The WFSA at the United Nations

UN Meeting

The United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects

At the United Nations Headquarters, in New York, USA, from June 26 to July 7 2006, the Small Arms Review Conference was held.

The conference, chaired by President-designate H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in New York, brings governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society representatives in national delegations.

The Chairman, Prasad Kariyawasam of Sri Lanka, issued a statement saying that no common position paper would be forthcoming. As a further result of an inability to find common ground, no firm plans were made for a following conference.

The processes of the UN's heavily increased interest in private civilian firearm ownership were initiated in the 2001 Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapon. This became the core focus of international, regional and national efforts to reduce illegal gun trafficking, and the rising activity in that area inevitably spilled over into private firearm ownership.

At the conference just closed, Secretary-General Kofi Annan gave the opening address, calling for effective enforcement and better controls, and stated that each year an estimated $1 billion worth of small arms are illegally traded. He also denied any UN interest in restricting the rights of lawful gun owners within the frameworks of their own countries.

The WFSA is an NGO in Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Statement to meeting by WFSA President Dott. Carlo Peroni.

Statement to meeting by Mr. C. Edward Rowe, Chairman WFSA Manufacturers' Advisory Group.

Statement to meeting by Mr. David Penn, The British Shooting Sports Council (BSSC) -- member of WFSA.

Statement to meeting by Mr. Tony Bernardo, Canadian Institute for Legislative Action (CILA) -- member of WFSA.

Statement to meeting by Mr. Hermann Suter, PROTELL -- member of WFSA.

Statement by Mr. Bruce Shaw, South African Gunowners Association (SAGA) -- member of WFSA.

Statement to meeting by Professor Gary Mauser, National Firearms Association (NFA) -- member of WFSA.

Statement by Mr. Thomas Mason, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufactures' Institute (SAAMI) -- member of WFSA.

Statement to meeting by Mr. Richard Parsons, Safari Club International (SCI) -- member of WFSA.

Statement to meeting by Mr. Mark Barnes of FAIR Trade Group -- member of WFSA.

UN website this site includes the meeting summary, statements made at the meeting by governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil societies

Link to Video webcast of UN Conference

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