Topic: Combating the Spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons
Country: Congo
Delegate Name: Hannah Jackson
School: Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Congo position papers GLIMUN 2014 committees
The Democratic Republic of Congo believes that the global spread of small arms and light weapons must be prevented and halted where it is already existent. Small arms and light weapons are detrimental to human rights, because they make it simple to carry out violent crimes. DR Congo believes that the tracking of small arms and light weapons is absolutely essential to stopping their spread, and that the easiest way to accomplish this tracking is to create a global network for sharing information on the location of small arms and light weapons. This would require, however, cooperation from all nations of the world, something that can only happen if the international community is truly committed to stopping the illicit distribution of these weapons.
As a signatory to the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, DR Congo is committed to preventing the distribution of small arms and light weapons by taking steps such as implementing national laws to regulate importing of small arms and light weapons, establishing laws to prevent stockpiling of these small arms and light weapons, and to increase education and awareness of the small arms and light weapons trade. We believe that education about small arms and light weapons is critical, because this would promote cooperation and peace among the states of the world. We also believe that it would be in the international community's best interest for the secretary general to collect information on the small arms and light weapons trade, and to report this information to the UN. These steps can all help combat the spread of small arms and light weapons.
