Success at Second Review Conference Will Boost Efforts to Tackle Wide Availability

 

of Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons, Says Secretary-General

 

The following statement was issued on 8 September by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the successful conclusion of the Second Review Conference of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which concluded yesterday by adopting a final report.

The final report expresses the international community’s unwavering commitment to combat the devastating impacts of illicit small arms and light weapons.  It also sets out a roadmap for the period 2012-2018, with concrete, actionable steps to implement the Programme of Action.

The Secretary-General believes that the success achieved at this Review Conference will further bolster the international community’s efforts to tackle the challenges associated with the wide availability of illicit small arms.  In particular, this success should give further impetus to the efforts to conclude the Arms Trade Treaty process in the nearest future.

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For information media • not an official record