Dealing with Small Arms: Scope and Initiatives Robert Muggah, Small Arms Survey, Geneva

Outline What are Small Arms and Light Weapons? What are Small Arms and Light Weapons? A Global Snapshot A Global Snapshot Direct Effects: Death and Injury Direct Effects: Death and Injury Indirect Effects and Costs Indirect Effects and Costs Tackling the Problem Tackling the Problem Unfinished Business and the Way Forward Unfinished Business and the Way Forward

What are Small Arms and Light Weapons? Small Arms: handguns, rifles, carbines, assault rifles, machine guns Light Weapons: heavy machine guns, RPGs, MANPADS over 100mm Source: UN Group of Governmental Experts, 1997

A Global Snapshot 1,130 companies in 98 countries involved in some aspect of production, components, repair 1,130 companies in 98 countries involved in some aspect of production, components, repair Legal trade worth pproximately $4 billion/year Legal trade worth pproximately $4 billion/year up to one-third is ammunition up to one-third is ammunition Illegal trade worth?? – perhaps $1 billion Illegal trade worth?? – perhaps $1 billion

At least 875 million weapons held worldwide Who has the guns: Approximately 70% in civilian hands Approximately 70% in civilian hands one-quarter in armed forces one-quarter in armed forces a few percent with police a few percent with police … and less than one percent with non-state armed groups … and less than one percent with non-state armed groups Global Distribution: A largely civilian arsenal

Direct Effects More than 300,000 fatal injuries in 2003 More than 300,000 fatal injuries in ,000 of these in conflict ,000 of these in conflict ,000 from homicide, suicide and accident ,000 from homicide, suicide and accident Young males at high risk Young males at high risk

Direct Effects by Region Regional Distribution of homicide/suicide (56 countries in 2003)

Gendered Direct Effects Distribution of homicide/suicide (56 countries in 2003)

Impact Distribution: Geography, age and gender

Impact Distribution: Urban versus Rural In Brazil: violence is concentrated in large urban areas, with great inequality, drug trafficking, gangs, and criminal opportunities

Indirect Effects Excess mortality in conflict zones (the vast majority of victims) Excess mortality in conflict zones (the vast majority of victims) Criminal violence: policing and security Criminal violence: policing and security Costs to health system Costs to health system Delivery of basic services or humanitarian aid affected Delivery of basic services or humanitarian aid affected Economic opportunity costs Economic opportunity costs

Indirect deaths In most conflicts, indirect deaths make up the majority of victims … up to 90 percent of the three million deaths in DRC between … This “excess mortality” depends on access to food, water, shelter and basic health care

Direct and indirect costs of armed violence Direct and indirect costs of armed violence Human Social, economic, and other costs DirectDeath and injury Hospital care Lost productivity/income Life insurance pay-out Interrupted commerce Impaired tax collection Capital flight Damage to private property Damage to infrastructure Damage to agriculture IndirectDeath and sickness from treatable disease Death and sickness from malnutrition Death and injury from risk-taking Lost quality of life Care providing (family) Out-patient care Migration/emigration Increased policing Incarceration Higher insurance rates Higher commodity prices Legal services Reduced GDP Long term productivity/income losses Re-building property and infrastructure Re-planting/re-stocking agriculture

Cause or symptom? Escalatory cycles of armed violence Force asymmetries Arms acquisition Arms racing Escalating armed violence Symptom of insecurity Cause of insecurity

Four major sources: State collapse during war Re-cycling from past wars Arming of civilians in response to threats Support to foreign armed groups Key role of the State: States are the primary source of small arms entering the illicit market State transfers to non-state actors and militias feed armed group and criminal acquisitions Loss and theft from national stockpiles remains a key source of arms and ammunition in many regions Sources of Proliferation

Stemming Illicit Trafficking and Use

Tackling the Problem: Key Initiatives UN Programme of Action (2001) UN Programme of Action (2001) UN Firearms Protocol (2001, 2005) UN Firearms Protocol (2001, 2005) UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement OAS Firearms Convention/Model Regulations OAS Firearms Convention/Model Regulations European Union initiatives European Union initiatives OSCE Document on SALW OSCE Document on SALW ECOWAS Convention, SADC and Nairobi Protocols ECOWAS Convention, SADC and Nairobi Protocols

“First Generation”(Supply) Measures Marking, record-keeping and tracing of SALW Marking, record-keeping and tracing of SALW Export control initiatives: TCI, ATT, etc. Export control initiatives: TCI, ATT, etc. Stockpile management and security Stockpile management and security Weapons destruction, both surplus and post- conflict Weapons destruction, both surplus and post- conflict Ammunition (in all its dimensions) Ammunition (in all its dimensions) MANPADS MANPADS End-user certification End-user certification Brokering (including transport/financial agents) Brokering (including transport/financial agents)

“Second Generation” (Demand) Measures Demand for small arms (state and non-state) Demand for small arms (state and non-state) Small arms and development Small arms and development Small arms and armed violence reduction Small arms and armed violence reduction Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Small arms and Security Sector Reform Small arms and Security Sector Reform Victim assistance Victim assistance (and gender dimension of all of these topics)

“Unfinished Business” Transparency in production, transfers, stocks and holdings Transparency in production, transfers, stocks and holdings Weapons transfers to non-state armed groups Weapons transfers to non-state armed groups National regulation of civilian possession National regulation of civilian possession

The Way Forward Develop instruments to deal with remaining first generation issues Develop instruments to deal with remaining first generation issues Synchronize processes and reporting Synchronize processes and reporting Elaborate second generation measures and practical violence reduction programmes Elaborate second generation measures and practical violence reduction programmes Set benchmarks or goals for progress to 2020 Set benchmarks or goals for progress to 2020

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