Effective approaches to non-proliferation of Small arms and light weapons and securing Stockpiles of conventional ammunition in focus at OSCE meeting

VIENNA, 2 October 2018 – How to advance, streamline and ensure an effective OSCE approach to the non-proliferation of Small arms and light weapons (SALW) and in strengthening the safety and security of Stockpiles of conventional ammunition is the focus of a two-day meeting which opened today in Vienna.

More than 120 representatives of OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and other partnering organizations have gathered for the Biennial Meeting to Assess the Implementation of the OSCE Documents on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition.

Opening the meeting, Chairperson of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE  Ambassador Ulrika Funered said that the issues of SALW proliferation and the stockpile management of conventional ammunition, explosive materials and detonating devices continues to pose serious threats to safety and security in the OSCE region and globally.

“Thousands of people are killed every year with Small arms and light weapons, leading to the deterioration of security, escalation of violence, economic slowdown and affect other factors constituting the framework for regional, national and individual security,” she said.

Nonetheless, she added, it was reassuring to see continuing improvements in efforts to obtain data on the gender aspects of the problem and in mainstreaming gender in relation to SALW.“For too long have we been missing a comprehensive account and approach to the different effects of violence involving the use of Small arms and light weapons on women and men. Equal participation in security and proliferation analyses, negotiations and decision-making processes will increase the legitimacy, quality and effectiveness of our work,” said Ambassador Funered.

Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Ambassador Marcel Peško, further highlighted innovative projects conducted under the OSCE’s Assistance Mechanism where participating States request support and expertise on SALW-related measures.

“The OSCE works on 10 to 12 projects each year, with annual funding of around three million euros,” he said. “Moreover, the demand for assistance is steadily growing. It is a sign of increased confidence in the OSCE’s capability to provide effective and result-oriented support.”

“Most recently, an overarching project on strengthening OSCE action against the illicit proliferation of SALW and Stockpiles of conventional ammunition has been launched. This is designed to assist the participating States in more effective planning, implementing and, where necessary, strengthening of their work in the area of combating the illicit proliferation of weapons as well as excessive accumulation of conventional ammunition, explosive material and detonating devices,” said Ambassador Peško.

Over the course of the meeting participants will examine the outcomes of the UN’s Third Review Conference on the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the illicit trade in SALW in all its aspects and its International Tracing Instrument, which was held from 18 to 29 June 2018 in New York. Later, the objectives of the meeting’s working sessions will be to launch an inventory of the OSCE’s existing tools and seek ways to streamline them to current developments, lessons learned and upgrades, where and if necessary.