Cheack these out!

TFO


IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms)

First Committee 2009

From IANSA website:


US: Clinton announces support for ATT
In a major policy reversal, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the US will support an Arms Trade Treaty at the UN. In a statement released on 14 October 2009, Secretary Clinton committed the US to "actively pursuing a strong and robust treaty that contains the highest possible, legally binding standards for the international transfer of conventional weapons." The decision brings to an end years of US opposition to the treaty proposal, and has been welcomed by IANSA members around the world. Read more.



UN First Committee, 2009


There are six committees of the UN General Assembly. The First Committee deals with disarmament and international security, and meets annually at UN Headquarters in New York (US) during October.

In 2009,there are several resolutions at the First Committee relating to small arms and light weapons control. In addition, the Control Arms campaign is promoting a resolution on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).This resolution will establish a negotiating conference in 2012.

After approval in the First Committee, these resolutions will be transmitted to the General Assembly for a final vote. To learn more about the First Committee, and to find out what your government said, visit the website of Reaching Critical Will.


Resolutions debated at the First Committee

The Arms Trade Treaty

Voting result: 153 yes, 19 abstain, 1 no

This resolution establishes a 2012 UN Conference on the ATT, where the text will be negotiated. The remaining 4 weeks of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) in 2010 and 2011 are transformed into preparatory committees to help develop the text.The Conference will make decisions on the basis of consensus.

Click here to read the resolution.

The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects

Voting result: 179 yes

Voting result on paragrpah 4: 177 yes, 1 abstain
Voting result on paragrpah 15: 177 yes, 1 abstain

This resolution confirms that the 2010 Biennial Meeting of States will be held from 14-18 June. It also reaffirms an expert meeting in 2011 and a Review Conference for the UN Programme of Action in 2012. Click here to read the resolution.

Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus

It also encouraged States to review their ammunition stockpiles to determine the size and nature of their surplus stock. Surplus stock should then be destroyed. Click here to read the draft resolution.

Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them

This resolution encourages sub-Saharan African States to facilitate effective functioning of their National Commissions on Small Arms. It also calls for international support to these efforts, and encourages States and other international organisations to cooperate with and support the work of civil society on small arms control. Click here to read the draft resolution.







CASA (Coordinating Action on Small Arms Mechanism)
CASA - Coordinating Action on Small Arms Mechanism

CASA - Coordinating Action on Small Arms Mechanism



From CASA Website:

The Coordinating Action on Small Arms (CASA) mechanism was established in 1998 as a United Nations tool for the formulation and implementation of a multidisciplinary and coherent approach to the problem of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW). On 14 August 1998, the Secretary-General designated the Department for Disarmament Affairs as the focal point for coordinating all action on SALW within the United Nations system.

Since its inception CASA has provided a forum for the harmonization of policy proposals and the building of synergies among all the participating UN bodies. In addition, it has provided a coordinated response to the challenges facing the UN system. Collaborative initiatives carried out under the framework of CASA include fact-finding missions, field projects, seminars and workshops to assist in the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action adopted at the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

For more information, please contact Mr. Antonio Evora, Secretary of CASA, Conventional Arms Branch, Department for Disarmament Affairs, Room S-3170G UNITED NATIONS, Office: (212) 963-5876, Fax: (212) 963-1121, e-mail: evora@un.org or focal points of CASA member organizations.