OSCE meeting reviews assistance projects for combatting illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition

A review meeting on the implementation of OSCE assistance projects in the field of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and stockpiles of conventional ammunition (SCA) has been organized in-person and online by the Austrian Chair of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on 5 and 6 October 2021.

“Excessive accumulation and the uncontrolled spread of SALW and SCA can negatively affect societies and people’s security,” said Ulrika Funered, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council. “The commitments in the field of SALW and SCA, even though political, are among the core commitments of OSCE participating States which, to this day, are among very few unquestionable and unanimously acknowledged.”

During the two-day meeting, more than 200 participants from the OSCE participating States and international organizations will share their experiences and assess present progress achieved in implementing practical projects on the ground. At the same time, they will analyze challenges and opportunities related to these concretes measures. They will also discuss practical examples and analyze challenges related to these multilateral projects.

“Effectively combating threats such as the illicit trafficking in SALW and SCA requires joint action, across organizations and political differences,” emphasized Florian Raunig, Chairperson of the FSC. He explained how combatting illicit trafficking through efficient implementation of SALW and SCA projects is one of the priorities of the Austrian FSC Chairpersonship.

Tuula Yrjölä, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and Deputy Head of the OSCE Secretariat, highlighted: “The requirements to address SALW and SCA concerns are becoming increasingly more complex, simple interventions may not be feasible anymore. To address this, she added, requires a “shift towards more comprehensive and regional approaches.”