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Kiribati — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Kiribati is 81

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Kiribati is 0.0081 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Kiribati is reported to be 81

Government Guns

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Routine Arming of Police

In Kiribati, police officers on routine patrol do not carry a firearm2

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Kiribati are reported to have 1333 to 1374 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

In Kiribati, annual homicides by any means total

2008: 75

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

In Kiribati, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2008: 7.35

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Suicides (any method)

In Kiribati, annual suicides by any means total

2005: 216

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Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Kiribati, the annual rate of suicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2005: 22.587
2004: 6.508
2002: 6.50
2001: 4.67
2000: 3.57
1999: 0.00

ProductionGun Industry

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Regulation of Firearm Makers

In Kiribati, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is prohibited9

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Regulation of Firearm Exports

In Kiribati, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 10

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Regulation of Firearm Imports

In Kiribati, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 11

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Kiribati is reported to be US$3,83712 (2011)

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Kiribati, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law13

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Kiribati is categorised as restrictive14

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In Kiribati, civilians are not allowed to possess automatic firearms and handguns15

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Regulation of Automatic Assault Weapons

In Kiribati, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited15

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Regulation of Handguns

In Kiribati, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is prohibited15

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Kiribati, only licensed gun owners16 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Kiribati are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, pest control17

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Kiribati, the law requires18 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Kiribati, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law19

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In Kiribati, the maximum penalty for illicit possession of firearms is 2 to 10 years prison and a $400 to $2,000 fine20

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

Pacific Islands Forum

As a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Kiribati adopted the March, 2000 Nadi Framework agreement, which aims to harmonise small arms-related legislation across Oceania. In August 2003, the Nadi Framework’s draft model Weapons Control Bill was unanimously accepted for consideration by all 16 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum21 22

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Kiribati was absent from voting on23 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed24 by Kiribati

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Kiribati committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects25

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Kiribati has yet to submit a national report26 27 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Kiribati, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated28 27

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Kiribati, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated28 27

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Kiribati submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent28 27

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated27 by Kiribati to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided29 to Kiribati by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Kiribati has not declared30 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Kiribati has been a Member State of the United Nations since 199931

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list32 Kiribati as a Participating State

Short References

1.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Civilian Firearm Ownership in Pacific Nations, 2002.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q316)Full Citation

2.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Stockpiles and Trafficking in the Pacific: Police Inventories.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q145)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2003.‘Fewer Blanks: Global Firearm Stockpiles: Firearms of the Pacific.’ Small Arms Survey 2003: Development Denied.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q318)Full Citation

4.

Ribanti, Eken.2010.‘Correction on Number of Firearms.’ Personal correspondence with Philip Alpers.Tarawa:Kiribati Police Service,14 January. (Q1887)Full Citation

5.

UNODC.2011.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Kiribati.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,6 October. (Q6243)Full Citation

6.

WHO.2009.‘Western Pacific Region – Country profiles and health databanks.’ Country Health Information Profiles / CHIPS.Manila:World Health Organisation, Regional Office for the Western Pacific,19 August. (Q1889)Full Citation

7.

GunPolicy.org.2011.‘Calculated Rates – Kiribati.’ Historical Population Data – USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,1 April. (Q4340)Full Citation

8.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘East Asia and the Pacific, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3814)Full Citation

9.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Controls on Manufacture and Domestic Trade.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q327)Full Citation

10.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Import and Export Laws in Pacific States.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q320)Full Citation

11.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Domestic and regional issues.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q328)Full Citation

12.

Marsh, Nicholas.2013.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,14 February. (Q16)Full Citation

13.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

14.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

15.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Domestic and regional issues.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q1371)Full Citation

16.

Capie, David.2003.‘Legislation and enforcement: Good character.’ Under the Gun: The small arms challenge in the Pacific.Wellington:Victoria University Press,1 January. (Q319)Full Citation

17.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Genuine Reason: A Snapshot of Pacific Definitions – Kiribati.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q1370)Full Citation

18.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Registration.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q322)Full Citation

19.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q323)Full Citation

20.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Selected Penalties for Firearm Offences in the Pacific.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q326)Full Citation

21.

SPCPC/OCO.2000.‘Towards a Common Approach to Weapons Control: The 'Nadi Framework'.’ South Pacific Chiefs of Police Conference (SPCPC) and Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO).Nadi, Fiji:Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat,10 March. (Q576)Full Citation

22.

Baker, Jean.2000.‘Weapons Control Bill: Explanatory Notes.’ Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.Suva, Fiji:Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat,10 March. (Q577)Full Citation

23.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

24.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

25.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

26.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

27.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

28.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

29.

New Zealand.2010.‘Implementation of the Programme of Action – DDR Programmes.’ National Report of New Zealand on its Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations,1 February. (Q1881)Full Citation

30.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

31.

UN.2013.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,7 April. (Q290)Full Citation

32.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation