A/RES/63/72 GA

United Nations A/RES/63/72 General Assembly Distr.: General 12 January 2009 Sixty-third session Agenda item 89 (z) 08-47511 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2008 [on the report of the First Committee (A/63/389)] 63/72. The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 62/47 of 5 December 2007 as well as all previous resolutions entitled “The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects”, including resolution 56/24 V of 24 December 2001, Emphasizing the importance of the continued and full implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, 0F1 Emphasizing also the importance of the continued and full implementation of the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (the International Tracing Instrument), 1F2 Recalling the commitment of States to the Programme of Action as the main framework for measures within the activities of the international community to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, Underlining the need for States to enhance their efforts to build national capacity for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument, Welcoming the efforts by Member States to submit, on a voluntary basis, national reports on their implementation of the Programme of Action, Bearing in mind the importance of regular national reporting, which could greatly facilitate the rendering of international cooperation and assistance to affected States, _______________ 1 See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9–20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), chap. IV, para. 24. 2 A/60/88 and Corr.2, annex; see also decision 60/519. A/RES/63/72 2 Noting the analysis of national reports prepared for the biennial meetings of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Taking into account the importance of regional approaches to the implementation of the Programme of Action, Noting with satisfaction regional and subregional efforts being undertaken in support of the implementation of the Programme of Action, and commending the progress that has already been made in this regard, including tackling both supply and demand factors that are relevant to addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, Recognizing that illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons is a serious problem that the international community should address urgently, Recognizing also the efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations in the provision of assistance to States for the implementation of the Programme of Action, Welcoming the holding of the third biennial meeting of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action in New York, from 14 to 18 July 2008, Welcoming also the establishment by the United Nations of the Programme of Action Implementation Support System, as well as the initiative by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research to develop the database for matching needs and resources, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 62/47, 2F3 1. Underlines the fact that the issue of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects requires concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and that their uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world has a wide range of humanitarian and socio-economic consequences and poses a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels; 2. Encourages all initiatives, including those of the United Nations, other international organizations, regional and subregional organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society, for the successful implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects,1 and calls upon all Member States to contribute towards the continued implementation of the Programme of Action at the national, regional and global levels; 3. Encourages States to implement the recommendations contained in the report of the Group of Governmental Experts established pursuant to resolution 60/81 to consider further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing, combating and eradicating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons;3F4 _______________ 3 See A/63/261. 4 See A/62/163 and Corr.1. A/RES/63/72 3 4. Endorses the report adopted at the third biennial meeting of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action, and encourages all States to implement the measures highlighted in the section of the report entitled “The way forward”; 4F5 5. Encourages all efforts to build national capacity for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action, including those highlighted in the report of the third biennial meeting of States; 6. Decides that, in conformity with the follow-up to the Programme of Action, the next biennial meeting of States to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action shall be held in New York for a period of one week, no later than in 2010; 7. Also decides that the meeting of States to consider the implementation of the International Tracing Instrument2 shall be held within the framework of the biennial meeting of States; 8. Encourages States to submit their national reports, to the extent possible, by the end of 2009, and for those in a position to do so to use the reporting template prepared by the United Nations Development Programme, and to include therein information on progress made in the implementation of the measures highlighted in the report of the third biennial meeting of States; 9. Calls upon all States to implement the International Tracing Instrument by, inter alia, including in their national reports information on the name and contact information of the national points of contact and on national marking practices related to markings used to indicate country of manufacture and/or country of import, as applicable; 10. Encourages States, on a voluntary basis, to make increasing use of their national reports as another tool for communicating assistance needs and information on the resources and mechanisms available to address such needs, and encourages States in a position to render such assistance to make use of these national reports; 11. Stresses the importance of the early designation of the Chair, and encourages the regional group which will designate the Chair of the fourth biennial meeting of States to nominate the Chair-designate by October 2009; 12. Encourages States to identify, in cooperation with the Chair-designate, well in advance of the fourth biennial meeting of States, priority issues or topics of relevance in the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, including their implementation challenges and opportunities, as well as any follow- up to the third biennial meeting of States; 13. Decides to convene an open-ended meeting of governmental experts for a period of one week, no later than in 2011, to address key implementation challenges and opportunities relating to particular issues and themes, including international cooperation and assistance; 14. Also decides to convene a conference to review progress made in implementation of the Programme of Action, for a period of two weeks in New York, no later than in 2012; _______________ 5 See A/CONF.192/BMS/2008/3. A/RES/63/72 4 15. Encourages interested States and international, regional and other relevant organizations in a position to do so, to convene regional meetings to consider and advance the implementation of the Programme of Action as well as the International Tracing Instrument; 16. Emphasizes the need to facilitate the implementation at the national level of the Programme of Action through the strengthening of national coordination agencies or bodies and institutional infrastructure; 17. Also emphasizes the fact that initiatives by the international community with respect to international cooperation and assistance remain essential and complementary to national implementation efforts, as well as to those at the regional and global levels; 18. Recognizes the necessity for interested States to develop effective coordination mechanisms, where they do not exist, in order to match the needs of States with existing resources to enhance the implementation of the Programme of Action and to make international cooperation and assistance more effective; 19. Encourages States to consider, among other mechanisms, the coherent identification of needs, priorities, national plans and programmes that may require international cooperation and assistance from States and regional and international organizations in a position to do so; 20. Encourages civil society and relevant organizations to strengthen their cooperation and work with States at the respective national and regional levels to achieve the implementation of the Programme of Action; 21. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution; 22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled “The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects”. 61st plenary meeting 2 December 2008

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