SALW Control

2. SALW Control Name? Organisation? Event? Date?

3. Definitions • SALW ‘All lethal conventional munitions that can be carried by an individual combatant or a light vehicle, that also do not require a substantial logistic and maintenance capability’.

4. Definitions • SALW Control ‘Those activities, which, together, aim to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of uncontrolled SALW proliferation and possession’.

5. SALW Control • Can be implemented any time • For <100mm calibre • In support of a national strategy • In support of Security Sector Reform • Targets individuals, government, criminals, and terrorists

6. Global Impact of SALW • An estimated 500,000 people are killed per year by SALW worldwide – 300,000 during conflict, 200,000 due to homicide, suicide or accidental death (2001). • 640 million weapons are thought to be in circulation worldwide (2002). • Civilian weapons constitute 59% of the global small arms stockpile (2002). • Are SALW Weapons of Mass Destruction?

7. Impact of SALW • Undermine the ‘Rule of Law’ and the ability to keep the peace. • Fuel crime and instability. • Increase tension within communities. • Negate confidence and security building measures. • Act as an obstacle to development.

8. Impact of SALW • Encourage violent rather than peaceful resolutions to problems. • Contribute to human rights violations (including increasing lethality of domestic violence). • Discourage investment and tourism. • Resources spent on security are unavailable for development. • Casualties are a drain on the Health Service. • Contribute to ‘gun culture’.

9. Impact of SALW • Undermine the legal arms trade. • Fuels terrorism. • Present a physical risk to local communities due to the presence of unstable ammunition.

10. Local Examples – Impact of SALW on… • The Rule of Law?? • Crime and instability?? • Community tensions?? • Security-building measures?? • Investment, tourism and development?? • Human Rights?? • Health Services?? • Etc.

11. Impact on Children • Children affected disproportionately. • 2 million killed in 1990s. • Also affected by costs such as malnutrition, disease and preventable illness.

12. SALW and Gender • Men are predominant users. • Young men are primary targets for conscription. • WHO – men are 3-6 times more likely than women to murder in peacetime.

13. Men and Boys • In armed conflict: • Men are at greatest risk during conflict. • Are targeted for being protectors/defenders. • In peacetime: • Constitute 80% of homicide victims. • At greatest risk of gun crime and gang warfare.

14. Women and Girls • Possession can be expression of empowerment. • Can be a threat to self and families. • In armed conflict: • At greatest risk of injury and death as civilians. • Are targets of rape, sexual violence, prostitution and HIV. • Are targets due to role as reproducers. In peacetime: • At greatest risk of violence in the home.

15. SALW and Violent Crime • Availability of SALW fuels criminal groups. • Re-enforced by SALW possession. • Is a major social problem. • Weapons are often legally-owned • Corruption of law enforcement. • Criminal networks involved in bringing SALW into the country. • Looting

16. Aim of SALW Control ‘To control small arms and light weapons within society in order to secure a safe and stable environment in which people can live’.

17. Operational objectives of SALW Control • The reduction in the number of weapons available to criminals. • The reduction in the number of weapon and ammunition accidents. • The need to make a public connection between the availability of weapons and the potential for violence in society, (by both national authorities and the civilian population at large). • The requirement to build community awareness of the problem and hence community solidarity.

18. Operational objectives of SALW Control • The reduction and disruption of the transfer and illicit trade of weapons on the black market. • The control of legal weapons through national legislation and registration. • The recovery of stolen weapons from the community. • The reduction of the open visibility of weapons in the community, and addressing the culture of weapons. • The development of norms against the illegal use of weapons. • The use of SALW control as a launch framework for future capacity building and sustainable development.

19. Functional areas of SALW Control • Cross Border Controls • SALW Survey • SALW Awareness and Communications Strategy • Legislation • SALW Collection • SALW Destruction • SALW Stockpile Management • Management of Information

20. SALW Control interventions MUST: • DETER individuals, groups and organisations from illegally possessing or transferring SALW. • DENY access to SALW by inappropriate holders or users. • DISRUPT criminal operations, the movement of SALW and the storage of SALW. • DESTROY surrendered, captured or surplus SALW.

21. National SALW Control strategy • Must include ALL stakeholders. • Determine and delegate operational responsibilities in each functional area. • Must establish a ‘National SALW Commission’ / ‘National SALW Authority’.

22. Role of National SALW Commission ‘To plan, coordinate, direct and monitor all appropriate SALW control interventions at the national level in order to secure a safer environment and thereby meet the primary aim of SALW control’.

23. Useful References • Operational - SEESAC Regional Micro-Disarmament Standards and Guidelines (RMDS/G) http://www.seesac.org • Strategic - OSCE Best Practice Guidelines on SALW (2003)

24. Questions??