Adoption of Draft Resolution Concerning Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons Submitted by Japan to the United Nations General Assembly

December 3, 2008

The draft resolution concerning the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons which the Government of Japan submitted jointly with Colombia and South Africa has been adopted by an overwhelming majority, with 181 votes in favor and one against (the U.S.), at the United Nations General Assembly on December 3 (Wed) (New York time: December 2 (Tue)).
This resolution supports the report adopted at the Third UN Biennial Meeting of States on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (held 2008 July), encourages each country to implement “The way forward” stated in the report, and affirms the decision to hold future meetings on the topic (the next biennial meeting and the UN Conference to review progress made in the implementation of the “Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects”).
Since 1995, Japan has submitted small arms and light weapons draft resolutions to the UN General Assembly almost every year, setting out a course for solving the problem. This year’s adoption gained wide support from the international community as contributing to addressing the small arms and light weapons issue, and Japan intends to pursue its efforts to prevent the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

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