UN re-affirms it’s focus on civilian-owned small firearms
United Nations Press Release SOC/CP/180
21 May 1996
With the passing of the cold-war era and a shift from inter-State military conflicts to insecurity resulting from violent crime, the United Nations has turned its attention to a class of armament that is killing more people than major weapons -- namely, small, civilian-owned firearms. Such arms are increasingly associated with accidents, suicides and crime, and form a major source of illicit profits for transnational criminal networks.
And, while trade in major weapons is on the decline, small arms are spreading throughout society with little documentation, since they are frequently bought from private individuals, smuggled across borders or stolen from police and defence forces. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in his report to the General Assembly last fall, spoke of a world "awash" with small arms both for criminal activity and because of fear of violent crime.
A world-wide survey of firearms ownership and related issues was launched last December by the Division, which convened an international team of experts in firearms and crime control for that purpose. The study aims at providing clear and practical information on arms ownership by civilians, the relationship between firearms and crime and the status of regulatory measures in force in selected countries. The data eventually compiled could be used by the Commission in the development of related strategies. A report is before the Commission on this matter (document E/CN.15/1996/14), which includes guidelines for national consultants involved in preparing country profiles on the issues in question.
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