Topic: Illicit Trade in Small Arms
Country: Uganda
Delegate Name: Olivia Chen
School: Cranbrook Kingswood
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Uganda position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
Illicit trade in small arms is a major problem in many nations that encourages terrorism and crime as well as trafficking of drugs and precious minerals, endangering the safety and security of citizens. It wastes huge amounts of resources every year due to the disorder and damage they cause; resources that could otherwise be used for social and economic development. To Africa in particular, illicit small arms can be introduced from other countries and can end up in unauthorized hands. People in Africa have suffered the consequences of the re-shipping of arms to rebelling groups of other nations. In Uganda, this may be assisting groups like the Lord’s Resistance Army in their horrible attacks against civilians. Beatings, killings, looting, and abductions from violent groups such as the LRA spread to surrounding countries, like it has into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also leads to the displacement of thousands and requires additional help such as provisions from the World Food Program. If we prevent illicit trade in small arms, not only will it protect innocent people, it will open up more resources to be used by more nations in need around the world.
Recalling the Millennium Declaration, the delegation of Uganda expresses its hope that the international community will work to control or end this issue completely. Uganda urges that laws be transparently established where needed in addition to creating some sort of international code of conduct to regulate trade of small weapons by preventing sales of arms to areas where they might intensify violence and violate Human Rights and International Human Law, among other things. Uganda also requests that this body follows through with the idea of marking all light weapons so it can be identified and tracked by national authorities of each country using the manufacturer and serial number. Lastly, effective acquirement, regulation, storage, and elimination of small arms and light weapons should be applied, especially in post-conflict circumstances. The Republic of Uganda calls upon the states of the United Nations to combine our efforts to work towards a more peaceful world.
