Impact on children of illicit trafficking of small arms, landmines and unexploded ordnance

Evidence points to the fact that the widespread of small arms and light weapons fuels and exacerbates conflict, undermines peace processes, impedes peacebuilding and hinders the provision of humanitarian assistance. Compelling evidence exists of the direct correlation between the increased use of children in conflict and the ready availability of small arms, which are easy even for the youngest children to manipulate and master. The proliferation of small arms helps to sustain cultures of violence in fragile post-conflict societies, impacting the durability of peace and the long-term sustainability of development. Cluster munitions and landmines also have a devastating impact on civilians, especially children.

Most conflicts today are fought with small arms and light weapons. Their easy availability is directly linked to the dramatic rise in violence, the exacerbation of conflicts and the phenomenon of child soldiers. This is evident in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Côte d'Ivoire, DRC, Liberia and Sierra Leone, where illicit trade in small arms and light weapons is financed by the proceeds from the illicit exploitation of natural resources. The trans-regional dimension of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons has exacerbated the conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Data has been collected by United Nations agencies that connect trafficking in small arms to trafficking in children and women in southeast Asia, in particular in the border areas of Cambodia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar.

In the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), adopted in 2001, Member States expressed their grave concern about the devastating consequences of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons on children, many of whom are victims of armed conflict or are forced to become child soldiers. The measures envisaged in the PoA cover action at the national, regional and global levels which, if effectively implemented, can help minimize the adverse impact of illicit SALW on children.

According to the United Nations Mine Action Service, approximately half of the 15,000 to 20,000 annual victims of landmines and unexploded ordnances in 90 countries are children. In addition, cluster bombs indiscriminately impact and debilitate civilians, in particular children. Landmines and unexploded ordnances impede post-conflict development and reconstruction, blocking access to land and other resources and posing risks to returnee and internally displaced children. Mine risk education and securing stockpiled munitions remain the most effective short-term solution to keeping children safe and the adoption in May 2008 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions represents an important advance.