Global Classrooms International Model United Nations High School Conference

Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) Illicit Arms as a Threat to Global Security

“GLOBAL SOLUTIONS”

MAY 11-13

Introduction to the Committee

On the 16th of February 1946, the resolution 9(I) of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) dictated the foundation of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The Commission was established in order to succor the ECOSOC in implementing powers of supervision over the application of the international drug treaties, advise the Council on all matters concerning the control of narcotic drugs, and to draft and enforce international conventions when necessary. Then, the General Assembly (GA) further increased the mandates of the CND in 1991 to empower it to function as the leading body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Additionally, the ECOSOC ‘s resolution 1999/30 entreated the CND to form two distinct working segments: a normative segment where it conducts its treaty based and standard functions, and an operational segment where the it practices its duties as the governing body of UNODC. In consequence, the CND is said to be the major framework for joint efforts in battling the world drug dilemma.

Introduction to the Topic No country in the world is discharged from the startling disasters of firearm conflicts. As the market for illegal arms is eminent and growing, every nation is subjected to violence and insecurity. As stated by the United Nations Office for Disarmament, illicit trade of firearms is a “worldwide scourge”. Crime embodies itself in many schemes, from simple armed fights to transnational criminal networks. In addition, firearms, human, and drug trafficking are interrelated shapes of atrocity.

The illegal trade and misuse of firearms is primarily related to these unlawful systems and webs: as promoters to violence, executers of power, and profitable trade assets. The term firearms refers to light weapons that can be carried by one or two persons. Light weapons vary over a large range, from guns and pistols to grenade and rocket launchers. Moreover, hundreds of millions of light weapons are being circulated and illicitly trafficked around the world. Around the world, armed conflicts are rising dramatically and so are the destructions created by those crimes. The International Committee of the Red Cross identified firearms to be the main source of death in conflicts. Additionally, 90 percent of the new war afflictions originate from firearms. Hence, international crime such as drug and arm trafficking, terrorism and internal and regional conflicts are highlighted as the main lack of security threats.

To boot, the spread of illegal trade of firearms is easing the access to all types of weapons, threatening global security. In the context of armed conflicts, the death toll is well recognized and alarming. Thus, the convolution of the threats of organized crimes and firearms need precise and detailed actions regarding its prosecution, investigation, and prevention.

History of the Topic Monitoring illicit firearm trafficking corridors is practically essential for overcoming and abducting organized crime and terrorism. In the span of 50 years, according to proper examination, the world production of light weapons such as guns, pistols, rifles, and bombs and heavy weapons like military machine guns has exponentially increased. As a sporadic, trafficking usually starts from a formed hoard of firearms to a district plunging into crises.

Approximately in 2006, the value of authorized trade of firearms was assumed to be $1.58 billion. On the other hand, occupying 10%-20% of the legal market, the illicit trade of firearms was estimated to be $170 million to $320 million. Furthermore, the trade of firearms is divided into three aspects from its fields of use to its circulation to its effects on humanity. Starting with the fields of use of firearms, there are two major souks for illicit arms- criminals and politicians.

Fields of Use Crime Studies present, in the year of 2008 up to 88% of firearms murders in the United States were practiced using small arms. Moreover, homicide represents a major part of crime violent deaths. Homicide is the killing of one person by another for interpersonal issues such as values, beliefs, and resources, domestic disputes, and ravening by armed gangs. Another part is suicide, which is the killing of oneself intentionally; such killings might be performed using firearms. Moving to extrajudicial killings, such actions are the use of armed violence by the agents of the nation against its citizens. In addition, it is the illegal use of force and violence by the security forces and police towards state individuals. Around the world, the greatly armed individuals are mostly found in the United States. Hence, most of the firearms traded are bought legally but circulated clandestinely.

Conflict An average of 52,000 people were killed per year, and at least 208,300 conflictbased deaths were documented between the years 2004-2009. Thus, the other source of request for illegal weapons is from groups whose their primary purposes are political rather than criminal. Such political violent conflicts are ranked as one of the top ten deadliest disagreements contributing to the global death toll. Unconstitutional army and militants use the grey market to equip themselves with the small arms. Likewise criminals, the militants are usually able to get the weaponry they need through either stealing or buying them from local sources, police, or military. Surreptitious cross-border trade does take place, however it is usually passed relying on fraudulently paperwork or unethical politicians to confirm the passage. Those militants can be referred to organized crime with the trade transnational arms. Firearms corridors should be

reasonably simpler than other consumables. Unfortunately, no international database of firearms markets exists. Some sources claim that the more there are weapons in a specific country, the more there are insurgents to utilize them; hence this could be used as an impending start of the susceptibility to firearms illegal trade.

Firearms Routes In today’s world, the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is prevalent in all parts of the globe. Worth of $100 million or more, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States report annual exports of light weapons. And then, the Small Arms Survey added Canada, Czech Republic, France, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Sweden, Russia, and China as exporters of small arms. On the other hand, during the period of 2001-2011, more than 10 countries routinely imported light weapons and small arms worth $100 million per year. Those countries are Canada, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, United States, Cyprus, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, and Spain. Moreover, Germany is the largest importer of small arms after the United States. Hence, the United States is the largest exporter and importer of small arms and its accessories. Additionally, there are more than 875 million small arms and light weapons possessed by civilians, law enforcement, and military forces. Nevertheless, civilians own 75% of this total.

World Trafficking Corridors of Firearms

Threats on Global Security The circulation of small arms and light weapons creates a major threat towards peacekeeping and peace-building missions. One of the main objectives of the United Nations is to maintain peace among nations. Hence, the presence of organized crime and the equipment of those militants have been holding back the UN peacekeeping missions. For instance, the United Nations peacekeeping troops have been assaulted is several nations by unlawful insurgents in Kosovo, East Timor, Bosnia, Angola, and Sierra Leone. Furthermore, the easy access to firearms today is empowering transnational organized crime, terrorism, militia groups, and gang warfare. With that, the illicit trade of firearms is posing an immediate threat towards peace, national and international security, public safety, health, and economy. Additionally, according to the head of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, “illicit arms fuel the violence that undermines security, development and justice”.

International Actions Most current conflicts around the world are dealt with violently through the use of small arms and light weapons. Since the year 1962, the United Nations has been putting efforts into addressing the issues of illicit arms. Firstly, in September 2000, the United Nations included this matter in the Millennium Declaration in order to take active measures eradicating illegal trade of small arms and lights weapons and supporting regional withdrawal of military weapons. In December 2005. The General Assembly declared the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, to aid governments in locating the sources and corridors of illicit arms. In addition, in 2005, the United Nations adopted the Protocol against the Illicit manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition. This protocol was of extreme importance since it was the first legally binding document for member states to collaborate in battling the production and trade of firearms. In 2011, the General Assembly passed resolution Res/65/50 that states the national measures to be taken by each member state in order to combat illegal trafficking of small arms and the international help to be provided. In continuum, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs declared the International Small Arms Control Standards to make sure that enough support is provided to control the episodic life of small arms and light weapons from their manufacture to their circulation.

Recommendations The illicit trafficking of firearms and its threat to global security is a pressing issue that requires thorough, detailed, and clear discussion. Delegates must focus on frameworks that identify and examine the production of small arms, in addition to the tracking corridors such as border monitoring. By the same token,

delegates should take into consideration the powers and limits of this committee in order to cooperate with the United Nations and its member states. Moreover, the causes that push civilians into the illegal purchase of arms must be tackled as one of the ways of jurisdiction. As representatives, delegate can recommend technical and financial aid for regions that have fallen into the traps of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

Questions to Consider 1) Does the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons threaten your country? 2) Has your government detected rebel groups nationally and regionally that purchase illegal arms? Has your country suffered from civil wars? 3) Are economical and financial living conditions in your country one of the factors for illicit arms trade? 4) How can protocols reduce the illicit trading of light weapons? 5) What international and regional treaties has your country signed?

References 1) "UNODA - Small Arms and Light Weapons." UN News Center. United Nations. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. . 2) "Arms Availability." International Committee of the Red Cross. 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2016. . 3) "The Global Threat of Small Arms and Light Weapons -- A Primer." The Global Threat of Small Arms and Light Weapons -- A Primer. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. . 4) "United Nations Takes Action against the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons." United Nations. Web. 04 Feb. 2016.
united-nations-takes-action-against-the-illicit-trade-in-small-arms-andlight-weapons>. 5) "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime." United Nations. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. . 6) "Small Arms and Light Weapons." Small Arms Survey - . Web. 04 Feb. 2016. . 7) "United Nations Official Document." UN News Center. UN. Web. 04 Feb. 2016. . 8) "Firearms." United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Web. . 9) "Treaties." United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Web. .

Sources for Future References 1) https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/166818.pdf 2) http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/resources/statistics/factsheet.shtml 3) https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/transnationalcrime/threat 4) http://www.poa-iss.org/PoA/poahtml.