Governments remain central providers of security. This is their sovereign right and responsibility, to be performed in conformity with the rule of law. To effectively execute these tasks, their armed and security forces legitimately employ a range of weaponry, which they acquire through national production or through import. Exporters and importers need to ensure those weapons are transferred and stored safely, and not end up in the wrong hands.
Governments also have a responsibility to ensure public safety and have a vested interest in providing human security and development to their citizens. Therefore, ensuring that arms in private ownership do not enter illicit circuits must be part of the equation for every country.

Meetings and deadlines
General Assembly
- on Arms Trade Treaty
- on SALW
- The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects (2017)
- Earlier versions
- Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and light weapons and collecting them (2016)
- Earlier versions
- Addressing the negative humanitarian and development impact of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation (2006)
- on UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA)
- on national reporting on arms export legislation
- on SALW
- The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects
- Recent developments in small arms and light weapons manufacturing, technology and design and implications for the implementation of the International Instrument
- on UNROCA
