EU Presidency Statement - Thematic session on human development

Sommaire: July 11, 2003: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Carlo Trezza, Permanent Representative of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, on behalf of the European Union, at the thematic session on human development. Biennial meeting of states to consider the implementation of the programme of action on small arms (New York)

Madam President,

I have the honour of taking the floor on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries of Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their uncontrolled spread have a direct, negative impact on the opportunities for a sustainable development in countries afflicted by armed violence and conflicts. Therefore, specific projects aimed at reducing the unregulated availability of those arms must be an integrated element of development strategies, which otherwise would be hindered by high levels of insecurity and violence. More attention needs to be given to coordinating donors assistance with recipient countries.

Such projects should include, inter alia, weapons collection and security sector reform programmes, confidence building measures, incentives to encourage the voluntary surrender of illegally-held surpluses, measures for the removal of surplus weapons to safe storage and for their quick and effective destruction.

Particular attention should be given to disarmament and demobilisation of combatants and to their subsequent rehabilitation and reintegration, as well as to specific assistance to SALW victims.

In a broader perspective, existing ''cultures of violence'' in countries afflicted by the destabilising accumulation of small arms ought to be challenged and reversed by enhancing the involvement of civil society through public education and awareness programmes.

Since 1999, the European Union has been applying such a comprehensive approach to its assistance programme on curbing small arms and light weapons in Cambodia, which consists of four components:

assistance to local authorities in the development of appropriate laws and regulations on the ownership, use and transfer of arms and ammunitions;
assistance to local authorities - including police and security forces - to develop guidelines for improved record-keeping and security for weapons held by them;
assistance to local authorities - including police and security forces - in developing procedures for voluntary surrender of SALW and for identifying and destroying surplus weapons;
support to civil society programmes to raise public awareness on problems related to SALW, in particular by supporting activities of NGOs.

The European Union encourages all delegations to engage in the debate and present their views and past experiences on the issue. In particular, consensus should be reached on a set of common guidelines to be included in future development projects, thus fostering international cooperation aimed at minimising the impact of the excessive accumulation of SALW on the socio-economic fabric of afflicted countries.

Ref: PRES03-210EN
Source UE: Présidence UE
UN forum: Première Commission (Désarmement et sécurité internationale)
Date: 11/7/2003

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