Preparatory Committee for Review Conference

on Illicit Small Arms Trade

9^th & 10^th Meetings (AM & PM)

Preparatory Committee Unanimously Adopts Draft Report for Conference

To Review Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons

 

Delegates Recommend Chair for Presidency of 27 August - 7 September Event

Wrapping up its week-long session today, the Preparatory Committee unanimously adopted its draft report, as orally revised, for submission to the Second Review Conference on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

By that draft text, delegates decided unanimously to recommend the candidacy of Preparatory Committee Chair Joy Ogwu ( Nigeria) for the presidency of the Review Conference, to be held in New York from 27 August to 7 September 2012.

Ms. Ogwu thanked delegates for their “constructive and fruitful” suggestions during the week, saying it was clear that more evidence was needed on assistance and capacity-building.  “Your remarks and suggestions today will help profoundly in the preparatory work for the Review Conference,” she added.  “Within the limited time available to us, we have made considerable and remarkable progress, despite all odds.  We have fulfilled our mandate.  We have laid a successful foundation for a constructive Review Conference.”

She said that since time would be limited at the Review Conference, she planned to devote six of the nine days set aside for the event to debate.  “It is vital we lay the foundations for the way forward,” she emphasized.  “Our work is particularly pivotal to people everywhere in the world, especially those who live in fear because of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.  Let us keep this in mind with each step we take towards the Review Conference.”

The Review Conference would examine progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action, adopted by consensus in 2001, when more than 170 Member States, gravely concerned about the illicit small arms trade, committed themselves to a series of actions to prevent, combat and eradicate it.

By the draft report adopted today, documents to be forwarded to the Second Review Conference included a draft provisional agenda, background documentation, including the text of the Programme of Action, and guidelines for the election of the Secretary-General and other officers.

Participating in today’s discussions were representatives of the United Arab Emirates, Liechtenstein, Russian Federation, United States, Nigeria, Mexico, Pakistan, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica (on behalf of the Caribbean Community), China, Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, Burundi, India, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Finland, Indonesia, Egypt, France, Republic of Korea, Brazil, Cuba, Turkey, Canada, Nigeria, Niger, Colombia, Ghana, Syria, Italy, Iran, Algeria, United Republic of Tanzania, Netherlands, Israel, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Venezuela, Mexico, Belize (speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community), Georgia and the European Union delegation.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record