USA. 2008 ‘Gaps in Implementation of the UN Program of Action.’ National Report of the United States of America on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), p. 7. New York, NY: Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. 1 January

Relevant contents

Overview

The United States strongly supports the 2001 UN POA. U.S. commitment to reducing the illicit SALW trade is manifested through arms export control structures, law enforcement efforts, and in significant cooperation and assistance programs. According to the United States' analysis, the United States is one of less than a dozen countries that have implemented all aspects of the UN POA. The U.S. applies strict controls on weapons transfers - both import and export - as well as a robust end-user monitoring and certification system. The U.S also has strong controls over brokers; maintains effective stockpile management of weapons under state control; and properly disposes of government-declared surplus and illicit weapons…

By the United States' analysis, just 15 countries have laws and procedures regarding SALW production, export, import, brokering, illicit possession, illicit trade, and illicit manufacturing. Only 64 countries have procedures and systems in place for stockpile management and security as well as regular reviews of their stockpiles.

Since 2001, only ten countries have reviewed existing laws governing SA/LW production, export, import, and brokering as well as reviewed laws on criminalization of illicit possession, trade, and manufacturing. The scope of the countries' laws and processes controlling the export of SA/LW range drastically. Of the 111 countries that have any procedures in place, 41 countries conducted an assessment of the risk of diversion of the weapons into illicit circulation and only 58 countries require an authenticated end-user certificate before permitting export. Despite the continual changes in global trends of SA/LW, 174 countries have not reprioritized or reexamined their laws and procedures.

[SALW = Small Arms and Light Weapons]

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