UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the successful conclusion of the Fourth Review Conference on combating illicit small arms and light weapons, marking it as a significant milestone. The Secretary-General emphasized the urgency to address the proliferation, diversion, and misuse of small arms, which continue to undermine global peace and development. In his statement, Guterres expressed his hope that the commitments made would influence future discussions at the upcoming Summit of the Future in September. The aim is to find forward-thinking and actionable solutions to the challenges posed by small arms.
This latest conference concluded with the adoption of a “strong outcome document” that sets the roadmap for national and collective efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms until the next review conference in 2030. Earlier in the month, Guterres highlighted the importance of this conference, noting the dire global situation exacerbated by new conflicts and light weaponry. His remarks underscored the devastating impact of these weapons on human lives and global security.
Amnesty International highlights the massive scale of the global arms industry, valued at an estimated $95 billion, with firearm violence claiming over 500 lives daily. The organization calls for stringent control over arms flows to mitigate this ongoing crisis. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the top five arms exporting countries are the United States, France, Russia, China, and Germany.
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