Press Releases
Adoption of the Resolution on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
Submitted by Japan in the Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly
December 24, 2021
On Friday, December 24, the Resolution “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 81 countries, was adopted by consensus in the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly.
- 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, and the importance of full and effective 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) for attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Encouraging international assistance to promote implementation of PoA, the resolution welcomes the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT), 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.