In a Press Release by the General Assembly of the UN dated 16 June 2014, they stated:

“Since 2003, Member States have gathered to consider implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted in 2001.  The Programme of Action prescribes measures for controlling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including legislation, destruction of confiscated weapons and the strengthening of State capacity to identify and trace small arms.  The current Meeting will run until 20 June, and earlier ones were held in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2010, with review conferences held in 2006 and 2012.”

Vision GRAM International headed by CEO and Founder, Victor Amissi, attended this meeting for the full duration as a key stakeholder and NGO supporter since the inception of the Arms Trade Treaty in 2001. Mr. Amissi stated, “Our organization is here to be an active member during the conference and vigorously participate in the lobbying of countries to include certain language in the draft. We have contacted delegations in the US as well as DRC and have attended the side events. We have been present at all sessions. We have supported the development of a strong Arms Trade Treaty and  believe that the adoption of one by all states is needed in order to protect the citizens who live in high risk areas for violence and illegal arms trade that leads to the death and suffering of millions of men, women and children.”

Programme of Action Highlights:

“More than a decade has passed since the adoption of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) in 2001. The PoA laid the foundation for action countering the illicit trade and uncontrolled circulation of small arms and light weapons at the national, regional and global levels.”

“Gravely concerned about the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world, which have a wide range of humanitarian and socio-economic consequences and pose a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels,”

“Gravely concerned about its devastating consequences on children, many of whom are victims of armed conflict or are forced to become child soldiers, as well as the negative impact on women and the elderly, and in this context, taking into account the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on children,”

“Reaffirming also the right of each State to manufacture, import and retain small arms and light weapons for its self-defence and security needs, as well as for its capacity to participate in peacekeeping operations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,”

Full Programme of Action found here.

Also participating today were representatives of Japan, China, South Africa, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Venezuela, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Guatemala, Republic of Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, India, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Brazil, France, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Australia, Malaysia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belarus, Benin, Nicaragua and Austria.

Representatives of Israel, Canada and the United States expressed regret over the State of Palestine’s participation in the Meeting, saying they did not recognize it as a State.