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Nauru — 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 Nauru is 01

Government Guns

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Routine Arming of Police

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

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Nauru are reported to have 233 firearms

ImpactsDeath and Injury

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Homicides (any method)

In Nauru, annual homicides by any means total

2008: 14

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

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

2008: 9.84

ProductionGun Industry

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Regulation of Firearm Makers

In Nauru, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence, but is not conducted in practice5

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

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Regulation of Firearm Exports

In Nauru, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 6

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Small Arms Exports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Nauru is reported to be US$14,6647 (2000)

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Regulation of Firearm Imports

In Nauru, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 6

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Small Arms Imports (US$) - Customs

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Nauru is reported to be US$1,6637 (2009)

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Nauru is categorised as restrictive8

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Nauru includes the Arms and Opium Ordinance 1936-19679

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In Nauru, civilians are not allowed to possess any firearms10

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Nauru, no civilian (civilian possession prohibited)10 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In Nauru, the maximum penalty for illicit possession of firearms is a $40 fine11

MeasuresInternational Controls

Regional Agreements

Pacific Islands Forum

As a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, Nauru 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 Forum12 13

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Nauru was absent from voting on14 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 been signed, but not yet ratified15 by Nauru

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Nauru 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 Aspects16

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Nauru has yet to submit a national report17 18 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Nauru, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated19 18

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Nauru, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated19 18

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UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and Support

In National Reports of Nauru submitted to the UN, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities is not apparent19 18

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated18 by Nauru to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided18 to Nauru by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Nauru has not declared20 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Nauru has been a Member State of the United Nations since 199921

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list22 Nauru 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. (Q292)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. (Q297)Full Citation

4.

UNODC.2011.‘Homicide in 207 Countries - Nauru.’ Global Study on Homicide 2011: Trends, Context, Data.Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,6 October. (Q6241)Full Citation

5.

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. (Q302)Full Citation

6.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Pacific Small Arms Legislation: Visiting Vessels.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q305)Full Citation

7.

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

8.

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

9.

Alpers, Philip and Conor Twyford.2003.‘Origins of Firearm Legislation.’ Small Arms in the Pacific.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies,31 March. (Q299)Full Citation

10.

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. (Q291)Full Citation

11.

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. (Q300)Full Citation

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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

16.

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

17.

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

18.

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

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. (Q166)Full Citation

20.

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

21.

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

22.

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