Topic: Combating the Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: Molly Miller
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Albania position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) are becoming a growing problem across the globe. The international arms trade, an underground an illegal operation, distributes these banned weapons to groups that have the potential to cause chaos. These weapons allow individuals and groups to murder, rape, and torture their victims. Unfortunately, there is little information available concerning small arms and light weapons. The unknown data makes it difficult for the issue of SALWs to be combatted. Furthermore, the number of SALWs must be reduced.
In Albania, transfer control law, with the value of exports being $549,467, limits firearm exports and imports. In 2000, the Government of Albania reaffirmed its commitment to destroy SALWs and promote the process of destroying illegal firearm stockpiles worldwide. Albania does not guarantee the right to privately own a gun. Albanian authorities maintain records of civilians who are licensed to posses a firearm. From 1997 to 2005, Albania destroyed 201,365 firearms that had been collected. However, it is not our policy to always destroy seized firearms. Our authorities have implemented many voluntary SALWs seizures. It is unlawful in Albania to distribute and buy firearms without a valid license. Albania is a part of numerous international SALWs controls, including the UNPoA and the Geneva Declaration of Armed Violence and Development.
Albania believes that information must be shared amongst countries in order for SALWs to be tracked and the issue solved. Albania thinks that countries should become involved in an international database in order to keep track of the trading of SALWs. Border control must also be improved and reinforced so weapons will be less likely distributed amongst countries. Albania believes that countries should reduce the number of firearms that are manufactured. Additionally, all nations must be in agreement to restrict SALWs and take action, otherwise this issue will never be solved. Albania believes that the public should be made aware of this issue. Education is the first step towards resolving the distribution of SALWs. Repercussions must also be enacted for anyone who is illegally involved with SALWs. However, we must not fight violence with violence.
