Preventing the trafficking of small arms into areas of conflict
Since the 1990s, there have been 49 major conflicts. Of these, 46 used only light weaponry, and only useed primarily heavy weapons. The global trend is clearly in conflicts clearly favors the use of light weapons, as they are more effective and much cheaper. However the trade of these weapons has udergone little monotoring and are easily accesible to militant groups. Because of the easy trade of these weapons, conflicts are easily escalated.
While these small arms prove to be a dangerous problem, the UN has currently done very little to stop their trade. The only major action from the UN came in the form of two studies by the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms in 1996 and 1997, which analyzed which weapons where used most commonly and how they were accumulated. While there are international embargoes on these weapons, they are ineffective in preventing trade.
While the UN must do something to combat this problem, national and regional efforts are necessary to make progress.
http://www.armscontrol.org/act/1998_08-09/mkas98.asp
http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsControl.asp
