The 2nd BMS is part of the follow-up process to the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which unanimously adopted the PoA.

The First Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects
(1st BMS) was held in July 2003 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Like its predecessor, the 2nd BMS will constitute an opportunity for an exchange of information on the implementation of the PoA among States, regional and international organizations, and civil society. The 2nd BMS will highlight successes and best practices in controlling and curbing the spread of illicit small arms and light weapons and identify areas where greater attention is needed.

Ambassador Pasi Patokallio (Finland’s Ambassador to Canada) was nominated Chairman-designate of the Second Biennial Meeting during informal consultations held in October 2004.

Bureau of the Meeting

The Bureau will consist of the following representatives from each Regional Group:

African States: Gabon, Senegal, South Africa
Asian States: Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea
Eastern European States: Armenia, Belarus, Russian Federation
Latin America and Caribbean States: El Salvador, Haiti and Venezuela
Western European and Other States: Norway, United Kingdom

Number of sessions and time management

The meeting will consist of ten sessions over five days. A general debate will take place during the first days of the meeting, during which time statements will be made by national delegations. One session will be devoted to statements by international and regional organisations and another devoted to statements by NGOs and civil society. In addition a thematic debate, expected to start on Wednesday 13 July and continue through the morning of Friday 15 July, will be held around the following topics:

• Weapons collection and destruction
oStockpile management
oDisarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants
• Capacity-building
oResource mobilization
oInstitution-building
• Marking and tracing
• Linkages (terrorism, organized crime, trafficking in drugs and precious minerals)
• Import/export control - Illicit brokering in SALW
• Human development
oPublic awareness and culture of peace
oChildren, women and the elderly

International cooperation and assistance will be considered a cross-cutting theme with relevance to all six thematic clusters.

Participation of NGOs

An aide-memoire outlining the procedures and modalities for NGOs participation is available here

Contact information

The Secretary of the UN Second Biennial Meeting is Ms. Pamela Maponga, Officer-in-Charge of the Conventional Arms Branch, Department for Disarmament Affairs.

For additional information please contact:

Department for Disarmament Affairs
Conventional Arms Branch
Room S-3120 F
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Fax: (212) 963-3689
e-mail: salw2005@un.org