Press Releases

Adoption of the UN Resolution on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons submitted by Japan in the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly

January 4, 2021
Japanese
  1. On January 1 (December 31, 2020, EST), the UN Resolution entitled “The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,” submitted by Japan together with Colombia and South Africa and co-sponsored by 85 countries, was adopted by consensus in the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly.
  2. The resolution underlines the importance for States to prevent, combat and eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, including their diversion to illegal armed groups among others, through implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), and to achieve sustainable development as targeted in the Sustainable Development Goals.
  3. Encouraging international assistance to promote implementation of PoA, the resolution welcomes the Saving Lives Entity (SAILENT), a UN fund established in 2019 to embody the commitment made by Secretary General Antonio Guterres in “An Agenda for Disarmament,” to support government action to tackle small arms and light weapons. Japan contributed two million US dollars to SALIENT in 2019.
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