Light Weapons And Micro Disarmament

Weapons.

"Since the mid-1990s, most of the international community has recognised the de-stabilising effect on failed and weak states of the illicit transfer, accumulation ad misuse of small arms and light weapons. They are said to fuel and prolong conflicts; obstruct relief operations; undermine peace initiatives; exacerbate human rights abuses; hinder post-conflict development and security and are perceived as 'fostering a culture of violence'. As a consequence, the United Nations (UN), regional governmental institutions, national governments together with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have proposed and developed various intiatives to curb the illicit trade and misuse of these weapons (UNDDA 2006). This paper considers the post-Cold War diffusion and proliferation of small arms, their attractiveness for violent non-state actors, some aspects of the arms trade and their impact on intra-state and cross-border conflicts."--l. 2.

A common feature of conflict in the 1990s is death and suffering from small arms and light weapons. The global diffusion of assault rifles, machine guns, mortars, and rocket-propelled grenades, which can be easily carried by an individual or transported by a light vehicle, has greatly intensified the violence of conflicts in countries around the world. This book represents the perspectives of the foremost specialists on light weapons, and it surveys the wide range of policy options open to the international community. These include export and import controls, law enforcement strategies to break up black markets, collection and destruction of weapons following the end of conflict, and efforts to illuminate how small arms and light weapons make their way to the killing grounds of the 1990s.

Provides an in-depth analysis of the issue of small-arms control. It discusses wars & privatized violence, firearm production & the ease of purchase, land mines, sources of small arms & commodities-for arms transactions, the challenge of shrinking armies, taking weapons out of circulation, & restricting governmentally approved sales & illicit transfers of firearms. Charts & tables.

This publication is a convenient collection of key international instruments relating to the issue of small arms and light weapons at the United Nations, as well as the most recent documentation from the Security Council and the General Assembly relevant to the subject. It is a handy reference tool for diplomats and other government officials, regional and subregional bodies, the United Nations system, specialized non-governmental organizations, research institutes, educators, students and the general public.