Human Wrongs Watch
(UN News)* — A conference focused on small arms and light weapons is taking place at a “difficult and dangerous moment for humanity,” according to the UN Chief António Guterres.
Delivering remarks in New York on behalf of the Secretary-General at a meeting aimed at eradicating the illicit trade in small arms, Izumi Nakamitsu, the head of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, warned on Tuesday [] that military expenditures continue to rise across the globe.
New conflicts are placing millions of people in the line of fire, and small arms and light weapons play a major role in these conflicts, she said.
Death merchants
In fact, “small arms are the leading cause of violent deaths globally, and are the weapon of choice in nearly half of all global homicides.”
She said the situation is only worsening as new developments in the manufacturing, technology, and design of small arms – including 3D printing – make their illegal production and trafficking increasingly prevalent.
The Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace policy brief recognises the importance of small arms control in preventing conflict and building peace. It makes recommendations to strengthen regional, national, and global control efforts on both the supply and demand side.
Mr. Guterres is calling for bolder recommendations to bolster the Agenda’s framework, particularly around new and emerging technologies, weapons-diversion, gender and international cooperation and assistance.
“A peaceful and sustainable future depends on addressing the threat of small arms and light weapons,” said Ms. Nakamitsu.
Learn More from UN News’ World News in Brief: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151171
*SOURCE: UN News. Go to ORIGINAL: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/06/1151171
2024 Human Wrongs Watch
Discover more from HUMAN WRONGS WATCH
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Baher Kamal
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 
Leave a comment