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The international legal regime on firearms consists of a variety of international and regional instruments.
These instruments provide a solid legal and operational framework for states to improve their laws, rules and procedures to address the different aspects of firearms-related crimes.
The plurality of these instruments demonstrates the complex and multi-dimensional nature of these crimes. However, their diversity can be confusing, contradictory and unclear, complicating the effective response to firearms crimes by national authorities.
They address the crime from several different perspectives. Some focus on disarmament, some on trade and development, while others aim to reduce the accumulation, proliferation, diversion and misuse of firearms, or to bring offenders to justice.
These differences reflect substantively different, although complementary, approaches to the same problem.
To benefit the most from these legal instruments, it is important for states to know them, understand their purposes and ensure their proper implementation at national and regional levels, contributing to harmonized legislations.
Read more about the UN Firearms Protocol, a key international agreement addressing firearms trafficking.
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List of relevant instruments and documents
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United Nations
Treaties
United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) (2000)
Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Treaty Series (2001)
The Arms Trade Treaty (2013) See General Assembly resolution 67/234 B.
Other instruments
Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001).
International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (2005).
Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons A/CONF.192/PC/20
Other International instruments
The Wassenaar Arrangement (1995)
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Plan of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons . OSCE Document FSC. DEC/2/10
Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition, Handbook of Best Practices on Conventional Ammunition (2008)
Principles on the Control of Brokering in Small Arms and Light Weapons, Forum for Security Cooperation, decision No. 8/04, (2004)
Standard Elements of End-User Certificates and Verification Procedures for SALW Exports, Forum for Security Cooperation, decision No. 5/04, (2004)
Handbook of Best Practices on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Handbook of Best Practices on Small Arms and Light Weapons (2003)
Principles Governing Conventional Arms Transfers Programme for Immediate Action Series No. 3 (DOC.FSC/3/96), (1993)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Document on SALW (2000 reissued in 2012)
Decision no. 11/08 Introducing best practices to prevent destabilizing transfers of small arms and light weapons through air transport and on an associated questionnaire (2008)
Africa
Treaties
Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials in The Southern African Development Community (SADC)(2001)
The Nairobi Protocol for the Prevention, Control, and Reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa (2004)
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials (2006)
The Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition, Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly (Kinshasa Convention) (2010)
Political documents
The Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons - Politically Binding (2000)
African Union Strategy on the Control of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (2011)
Action Plan For The Implementation Of The African Union Strategy On The Control Of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation And Trafficking Of Small Arms And Light Weapons
Americas
Treaties
Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and other Related Materials (CIFTA) (1997)
Documents
Andean Plan to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects - Politically Binding (2003)
CICAD Model Regulations - Model Regulations for the Control of the International Movement of Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition; Model Regulations for the Control of Brokers of Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition;
Code of Conduct of Central American States on the Transfer of Arms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Material (2006)
Asia-Pacific
Political documents
The Nadi Framework (Legal Framework for a Common Approach to Weapons Control)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (1999)
Europe
Political documents
Stability Pact Regional Implementation Plan (2001)
European Union
Council Joint Action of 12 July 2002 on the European Union's Contribution to Combating the Destabilizing Accumulation and Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons (replaced Joint Action of 17 December 1998 on the basis of Article J.3 of the Treaty on European Union on the European Union's contribution to combating the destabilizing accumulation and spread of small arms and light weapons)
EU Council Common Position on Brokering 2003/468/CFSP
Common position 2008/944/CFSP
European Parliament and Council of the European Union regulation 258/2012 implementing article 10 of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and establishing export authorization, and import and transit measures for firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. Official Journal of the European Union, L 94, 2012.
EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (1998)
EU Strategy to combat illicit accumulation and trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition (2005)
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