Annan Hopes to See Tougher UN Action to Curb Small Arms Trade

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 12, 2002

Annan Hopes to See Tougher UN Action to Curb Small Arms Trade

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday called upon the UN Security Council to take tougher action to curb trafficking in small arms, which kill about half a million people a year.

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UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Friday called upon the UN Security Council to take tougher action to curb trafficking in small arms, which kill about half a million people a year.

"The council is called upon to pursue more vigorously and expeditiously the use of arms embargoes" to stem the flow of arms to conflict zones, Annan said in a report discussed at an open meeting of the council.

Another of the 12 recommendations in Annan's report was that the council "consider coercive measures against member states thatdeliberately violate arms embargoes."

Representatives from some 40 countries, including all 15 council members, took part in the open debate.

Presenting Annan's report, the head of the United Nations department for disarmament affairs, Jayantha Dhanapala, described as "staggering" the latest estimates of casualties caused by small arms.

"At least 300,000 deaths every year are caused by armed conflicts in the developing world, 200,000 deaths are linked to homicide and suicide in the industrialized world, while millions more suffer nonfatal injuries and crippling disabilities," he said.

Other costs were more difficult to quantify, Dhanapala said. "Even in non-conflict situations where small arms proliferate, human security stands threatened to a degree that compromises public safety and social stability."

Four of Annan's recommendations focused on implementing a plan of action adopted in July last year by the UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Participants at the conference agreed to strengthen cooperation against the illegal spread of small arms, but had to tone down some proposals to reach agreement. The council later asked Annan for specific recommendations.

Another five proposals in Annan's report dealt with the use of embargoes and other coercive methods.

Two called for strengthening disarmament and demobilization programs in countries emerging from conflict. One urged member states to "enhance transparency in armaments," notably by signing up to a UN register.

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