World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities’ statement to the United Nations
Fourth 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
presented by Ted Rowe, President of WFSA
Good afternoon Mr Chairman. I am Ted Rowe, President of the World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities. The World Forum attended the 2001 Small Arms Conference and has attended all of the Biennial Meetings of States. We are an ECOSOC NGO and we represent the interests of over one hundred million hunters and sport shooters from around the world.
Mr Chairman, I would especially like to address the future of the Program of Action from the perspective of an organization that has been involved at the United Nations with the issue of small arms and light weapons even before the inception of the Program of Action.
Over the past nine years since the Program of Action was adopted the World Forum has had two very consistent messages. First, we have asked that the United Nations recognize that the vast majority of small arms in the world are firearms legally owned and possessed by the citizens of member states. Second, we have asked that the Program of Action remain focused on specific solutions to the problem of illegal trafficking in small arms and light weapons.
Mr Chairman, I am disappointed to say that our first message seems to have fallen on deaf ears. If one were to read each and every report of the various Biennial Meetings, regional meetings, expert reports, et cetera, one would find no acknowledgement or recognition of the existence and legitimacy of legally owned and possessed firearms within the civilian population of the world.
Unfortunately Mr Chairman, I must say that our second message has also has fallen on deaf ears and not been heeded. In the interest of brevity, I will say nothing more other than to observe that in general the Program of Action has lacked focus.
None the less Mr Chairman, the question or questions remain, where should we go with both the 2011 Open Ended Meeting of Government Experts and with the 2012 Review Conference?
Mr Chairman, I would suggest that the Meetings of Government do what we have asked the United Nations to do since our involvement over these many years and that is to focus on the real problem. The real problem that the Program of Action should address is not the legal civilian firearms owners but the illegal transfers of large numbers of military small arms and light weapons. Military small arms should be defined as those capable of fully automatic fire. A recommendation we have made for many years.
The illegal transfer of military arms should be the focus of the 2012 Review Conference. Specifics should be proposed to the Experts Groups and considered by the Conference. NGO involvement should be encouraged in both venues. We, the World Forum, wish to be involved and are ready and willing to offer positive solutions.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
Home > Capital news > World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities’ statement to the United Nations