In New York, India emphasized the importance of the UN Programme of Action and International Tracing Instrument in dealing with terrorism during the 8th biennial meeting of the UN Programme of Action.
The meeting adopted an outcome document for strengthening the implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument to control the illicit trafficking of SALW.
India advised strengthening the implementation of the Tracing Instrument, through boosted national endeavours to control illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), and to develop a mechanism for tracking illicit SALW.
Sandeep Arya, Additional Secretary, MoEA said during the meeting that “we particularly emphasize the importance of the UNoPA in alleviating armed conflict and tackling the scourge of terrorism that remains the biggest challenge for the world,” he added that despite a strong law-based framework in our country for controlling SALW, India security agencies seize annually thousand of illicit firearms, attributed to illicit trafficking from across our borders.”
He also said, “The continuing prevalence of illicit small arms and light weapons and their availability to terrorists, armed groups and other unauthorized recipients is a clear indicator that the implementation of the UNPOA requires further and more effective efforts.”
India reiterated its international cooperation approach, and to support developing nations in the implementation of these Instruments.
The outcome document acknowledged the role of the illicit arms trade in aggravating terrorism and underlined the role of these UN instruments in counter-terrorism. The outcome document states that the member states also agreed to enhance tracing measures of illicit arms and to explore the conditions of international cooperation with the involvement of the United Nations. The meeting also considered recent technological advancement in SALW and their adverse effect on the Instrument.
In December 2021, United Nations General Assembly also adopted a resolution, named ‘The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.’ The issue of the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons is important for complete disarmament, as the United Nations’ first committee included in its report on November 2021.
