Nproliferation of small arms and light weapons pdf

The small arms trade also called small arms proliferation and the small arms market is the markets of both authorized and illicit small arms and light weapons salw. It also suggests the way in which the group can consolidate its collective action. This official uk policy briefing summarises the damage caused by small arms and light weapons and outlines current uk initiatives. Proliferation of small arms and light weapons in pakistan. Pdf small arms and light weapons proliferation and its. The impact of small arms and light weapons salw on the. One of the fundamental obstacles to peace and security in west africa is the presence and continued proliferation of small arms and light weapons salw. It needs to be an integral part of a wider spectrum, covering conflict and security, armed violence and crime, trade and human rights, health and development. Controlling small arms and light weapons proliferation. While some scholars argue that small arms are the direct cause of insecurity, others maintain that small arms are. Most small arms and light weapons would not be lethal without their ammunition.

They are often a factor behind the forced displacement of civilians and massive human rights violations. As robert muggah and peter bachelor, analysts for the. The latest report into the illegal trade of small weapons across the continent highlights the extent of the problem. This initiative draws on the idea of development, peace and security for the people of west africa enunciated by the economic community of west. The illicit trade of small arms and light weapons the role. The problems of salw in south asia have to be seen within a global context, but the region itself has special concerns which must be understood by the world. Unlike heavy weapons systems, which can be costly to acquire and operate and comparatively easy to decommission or monitor, the end of a war does not necessarily bring an end to the use of light weapons. Arms control specialists argue that small arms are among the major causes of death, insecurity, violence and armed conflict globally. As a result of the use of these weapons, millions of people have lost their lives in. Former adversaries unanimously conceded on deliberately making major reductions in their conventional and nuclear arms.

Illicit flows of small arms and light weapons undermine security and the rule of law. Recently at the house of representatives, a bill for the establishment of a national commission against proliferation of small arms and light weapons passed second reading. Mitsuro donowaki, special assistant to the minister for foreign affairs of japan, at united nations regional seminar on small arms and light weapons for the south pacific pdf. Small arms and light weapons international peace institute. Proliferation of arms and security challenges in nigeria soetan, stephen olayiwola department of history and international studies, ekiti state university, ado ekiti, nigeria. Small arms fuel civil wars, organized criminal violence, and terrorist activities. The programme of action was adopted at the united nations conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects from 920 july 2001. Small arms and light weapons salw reaching critical will. Experts estimate that there are more than 600 million small arms and light weapons in circulation worldwide.

Small arms, light weapons, proliferation, national security, nigeria introduction the relationship between small arms and insecurity has been the object of contentious debates among scholars. Proliferation of arms and security challenges in nigeria. The use and misuse of small arms and light weapons salw are estimated to result in over 500,000 deaths per year, and countless injuries. How weapons proliferation fuels insecurity in nigeria. Impact of proliferation of small arms and light weapons in.

Light weapons comprise heavy machineguns, mortars of up to 100mm, and portable anticraftaircraft systems, while the term small arms denotes a subcategory of light. Small arms and light weapons are used both by government forces military and police and nonstate actors guerrillas, ethnic militias, warlords, brigands, and so on engaged in lowintensity conflicts. Small arms and light weapons proliferation and its. To coordinate the efforts of the united nations, a systemwide mechanism, the coordinating action on small arms casa, was established in 1998 to help all the various departments and agencies share information, experience, and practices, and to provide a forum for consultation in matters related to the field of small arms and light weapons. The presence and the use of small arms and light weapons have. Illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects programme of action poa adopted. This paper analyses the current situation of the salws issue in southeast asia. In nigeria, the trade in small arms and light weapons has been on the increase since the end of the nigerian civil war.

Why is the spread of small arms and light weapons a problem in west africa. Pdf impact of proliferation of small arms and light. Produced millions of injuries often leading to permanent disability, thus burdening communities and health systems as a whole. Tens of thousands of people are killed or wounded each year in conflicts that are fought primarily with these weapons and. As robert muggah and peter bachelor, analysts for the small arms survey, a european research institute. The statement therefore calls all states to join the att without delay. The problems of salw in south asia have to be seen within a global context, but the region itself has special concerns which must be.

Introduction the global security problems can be significantly attributed to the continuing small arms proliferation. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is closely related to the excessive and destabilizing accumulation and transfer of such arms and should, therefore, not be limited to criminal breaches of existing arms legislation and exportimport controls, but consideration should be to all relevant factors. Effects of proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Stemming the flow of illicit arms in africa africa dw. Self loading pistols, revolvers, carbines, rifles and machineguns. Considering that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons constitutes a major. It is now welldocumented that the proliferation of. Small arms and light weapons salw cause much death and injury around the world, through war, homicide and suicide. Socio political and economic development under threat. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons salw affects security while antipersonnel mines and explosive remnants of war kill and maim both people and livestock long after the end of hostilities. Small arms and light weapons salw remain cheap and easily accessible instruments for participating in armed conflict, terrorism, and crime. Pdf aseans efforts against the proliferation of small.

Since returning to democratic governance over a decade ago, nigerias socioeconomic development has. It also outlines measures of asean in response to this problem in the past up to 2005. A nexus to asymmetric threats in nigeria ugwumba egbuta academic paper politics international politics topic. The state of the proliferation of small arms and light. Both can have destabilising effects on social, societal and economic development and can represent major challenges to regional and national security. The stability pact scsp regional implementation plan rip, combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons salw. Pdf the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Without any doubt, the end of the cold war succeeded in bringing relief and optimism to people throughout the world. United nations regional seminar on small arms and light weapons for the south pacific nadi, august 2004 opening statement by h.

According to ibrahim 2003, the easy availability of salw is a threat to nigerias nascent democracy. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is adjudged as the most immediate security challenge to. Small arms and light weapons international peace bureau. All light weapons use less than 100 mm caliber ammunition. Small arms are, broadly speaking, kinetic projectile firearms designed for individual use. The small arms and light weapons proliferation stands a principal source of annihilation to human lives and property and worsen intercommunal clashes, resulting to serious violence. The illicit proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons ranks among todays most pressing security threats. The illicit proliferation and use of small arms and light.

Small arms and light weapons salw proliferation and. Proliferation of small arms, light weapons and ethnic. The study examined the increase in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, with a view to literary establishing its effects on the growing state of armed conflict in nigeria. Small arms and light weapons salw refers in arms control protocols to two main classes of man portable weapons. Curbing small arms and light weapons trafficking, and. Peace and conflict studies, security publish your bachelors or masters thesis, dissertation, term paper or essay.

One of the key considerations of the conference was the poas interaction with the multiple regional measures and initiatives already in place, such as the interamerican convention against the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms. Ap photof a r a h abdi w a rs a meh stopping the destructive spread of small arms how small arms and light weapons proliferation. Africa stemming the flow of illicit arms in africa. This report is the result of these discussions and reflects the conclusions of individual contribu tors and participants. Sears norman paterson school of international affairs, carleton university this article examines the potential of the arms trade treaty att to strengthen international control over global small arms and light weapons salw proliferation. Small arms and light weapons are an enormous problem. They kill over 300,000 people every year, cause injury to over 900,000 people and affect millions indirectly through the dislocation of communities and destruction of livelihoods. The eu statement stresses that the unregulated trade of arms continues to cause major suffering in many parts of the world, fuelling conflicts, terrorism and organised crime with small arms and light weapons killing around 500,000 people every year. The proliferation of small arms constitutes a major source of destruction to lives and properties and exacerbates intercommunal tensions leading to fullfledge conflicts.