Security Council Open Debate on Small Arms and Light Weapons, September 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

OVERVIEW

On Thursday, September 26th, 2013, the Security Council held a high-level meeting on small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their threat and disruption to the maintenance of international peace and security. This marked the first formal Council meeting in five years on this issue, and by a vote of 14 in favor to none against and one abstention (Russian Federation), the first ever Resolution (S/RES/2117) adopted by the Council on small arms and light weapons.

The meeting was chaired by Foreign Minister of Australia, Julie Bishop, who opened the discussion, followed by a briefing from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Following the opening remarks, a statement was delivered by the Vice-President of the International Red Cross Committee, Christine Beerli, in addition to statements by each of the 15 Security Council Member States.

GENDER ANALYSIS

A substantial gender perspective was largely overlooked. The discussion was limited to SALW and their threat to international peace and security. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon referenced sexual violence as a human rights violation that results from uncontrolled availability of arms and weapons. Similarly, the few Security Council Member States that did acknowledge women, such as Guatemala, Luxembourg, and the United States of America, only did in the capacity of women being targets, especially in armed conflict, and neglected the role of women as active agents in conflict prevention and resolution.

Only four Council Members, including Argentina, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, made meaningful references to women. In the cases of Argentina and the United Kingdom however, the context was limited to the connection between the proliferation and misuse of arms and weapons with crimes related to sexual violence. However, Australia made significant contribution by being the only Security Council Member State to make explicit reference to the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda, noting the issue of small arms and light weapons was one that cut across much of the Council's work, including their work on WPS. Further, Australia was also the only State to note the crucial role of women's participation in transition processes such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR). In this regard, the Republic of Korea stressed that the protection of civilians, particularly women, in armed conflict, requires improvement in DDR and SSR programs and processes.

RESOLUTION 2117

Resolution 2117 recognizes the interrelationship between Small Arms and Light Weapons, Women, Peace and Security, and Human Rights. It recognizes the disproportionate impact of SALW on violence against women and girls and how SALW exacerbate sexual and gender based violence (PP 10). The Resolution also stresses the importance of integrated approaches to SALW in line with SCR 1325 which recognize women's rights and provide for women's full, meaningful, and effective participation (PP 14, OP 12). It also urges further measures be taken in facilitating women's full and meaningful participation and access in all policymaking, planning, and implementation processes, including through consultation with women's organizations and civil society, as well as in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR) processes (OP 12). In addition, Resolution 2117 demands that parties to armed conflict comply with international humanitarian, human rights, and refugee law obligations (OP 13) and reaffirms the responsibility to protect civilians (PP16). It also urges states to sign and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and encourages capacity building to enable fulfillment of treaty obligations (OP 19).

However, gaps remain in the text,- gender was not integrated throughout the resolution but instead is primarily restricted to three paragraphs (PP 10 and 14, and OP 12). Consequently, issues such as sanctions regimes and arms embargoes are addressed without critical gender considerations.

GENERAL ANALYSIS

Council Members were in wide agreement that governments need to respect their obligation and responsibility to comply fully and effectively with Council-mandated arms embargoes. In this regard, a few Council Members, such as Argentina and China, emphasized the importance of enhancing national capacity-building which would aid governments, who hold primary responsibility, in arms control. However, China, in addition to Luxembourg, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, also stressed that because the transfer, proliferation and misuse of arms is done in violation of Council sanctions, the Council is therefore responsible to ensure effective implementation and provide the necessary support to Member States in enforcing arms embargoes.

Several Member States, including Morocco, Russia, and Australia, highlighted how SALW are in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, in addition to being a serious disruption and danger to the maintenance of peace and security. However, many Council Members also noted and agreed that the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was a positive development towards arms control and protection of human rights and international humanitarian law.

STATEMENTS

Member States who spoke at the meeting included representatives of: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, France, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Togo, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

UN and Civil Society representatives at the debate included: Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, and Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Christine Beerli.

*States and representatives who referenced gender are in bold.

Please choose

General Women, Peace and Security

  • Country

    Argentina

  • Extracts

    We emphasize that resolution 2117 (2013), which we have just adopted, recognizes the link between the unregulated circulation of small arms, on the one hand, and sexual violence and violence against children, on the other, in situations of armed conflict, although examples of this link also abound in peacetime. Various studies show that in any region of the world the possession of a small arm in the family space increases by 41 per cent the risk of a family member being murdered, while for women this risk increases threefold. The danger is only heightened in situations of armed conflict.

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Statement

  • Country

    Luxembourg

  • Extracts

    On 2 April, the General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty, which more than 100 Member States, including Luxembourg, have already signed. The majority of the members of the Security Council, including now the majority of its permanent members, have signed it. My country resolutely supports that historic instrument and will continue to work towards its rapid entry into force and its full implementation. By setting norms for the responsible transfer of all conventional arms, the Treaty will have a positive impact on international law, international humanitarian law and human rights. By prohibiting arms transfers in certain cases and by imposing the obligation on exporting States to assess whether the arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious acts of violence against women or children, the Treaty will contribute in a concrete manner to reducing human suffering and ensuring peace, security and stability.

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Statement

  • Country

    United States of America

  • Extracts

    The urgency and timeliness of the resolution adopted today (resolution 2117 (2013)) is reflected in the recent terrorist attack in Kenya, ongoing violence in the Central African Republic, the devastation caused by recent fighting Mali and the daily toll of suffering caused by armed criminals, illegal militias, drug cartels, pirates and others with illegitimate access to such weapons. The resolution highlights the special risks that illicit weapons pose to vulnerable groups, including refugees, the internally displaced, women and children and members of civil society, including those who deliver humanitarian assistance to families in desperate need. We are also reminded on a daily basis that the availability of illicit arms is both a cause and the result of violence, as rival groups arm themselves in response to the growing arsenals of the other. Our task, and it is a fully appropriate one for the Security Council, is to encourage States to act together to reverse those cycles of destruction and to invest our energy and resources on behalf of the rule of law.

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Statement
Participation

  • Country

    Australia

  • Extracts

    Assistance to States in managing their own weapons— those held by their security forces — will often be the starting point. For States emerging from conflict, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for former combatants must be carefully designed and implemented, and weapons accounted for. Security sector reform must include effective weapons management. Such transition processes must be inclusive, with women's participation being crucial. Existing controls, including national regulations and arms embargoes, must be fully implemented. Regional organizations will often be able to play a pivotal role.

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Statement
Protection

  • Country

    Guatemala

  • Extracts

    We must support the existing regulatory framework and formulate concrete steps to strengthen and maximize the impact of the Council's responses to threats to peace and security caused by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. In particular, I would like to highlight the recognition of the responsibility of States themselves to protect their civilians — most of all women and children — and to emphasize that preventing the proliferation of small arms must be part of that commitment.

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Statement

  • Country

    S. Korea

  • Extracts

    Secondly, in order to better protect civilians, particularly women and children, in armed conflicts, the Council's post-conflict peacebuilding efforts, such as programmes for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform, require further improvement. Peacekeeping, peacebuilding missions and special political missions should be given effective mandates and sufficient resources to enable them to fully support their host Governments. As the Secretary-General points out in his report, support actions for arms control and regulation should be considered in the planning of integrated peace missions. Reinforced border controls can also contribute to making disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes more sustainable.

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Statement
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

  • Country

    Argentina

  • Extracts

    We emphasize that resolution 2117 (2013), which we have just adopted, recognizes the link between the unregulated circulation of small arms, on the one hand, and sexual violence and violence against children, on the other, in situations of armed conflict, although examples of this link also abound in peacetime. Various studies show that in any region of the world the possession of a small arm in the family space increases by 41 per cent the risk of a family member being murdered, while for women this risk increases threefold. The danger is only heightened in situations of armed conflict.

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Statement

  • Country

    United Kingdom

  • Extracts

    Finally, we cannot forget that those weapons are often used to intimidate women, children and men caught up in conflict through rape and other acts of sexual violence. Preventing the proliferation of small weapons is one important way that we can help to stop such horrendous acts. Over 115 States have endorsed the Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. I would encourage all other States yet to do so, to join us in pledging their commitment to that initiative, in order to strengthen United Nations efforts and help organizations on the ground to support victims and their families.

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Statement
Human Rights

  • Country

    Luxembourg

  • Extracts

    On 2 April, the General Assembly adopted the Arms Trade Treaty, which more than 100 Member States, including Luxembourg, have already signed. The majority of the members of the Security Council, including now the majority of its permanent members, have signed it. My country resolutely supports that historic instrument and will continue to work towards its rapid entry into force and its full implementation. By setting norms for the responsible transfer of all conventional arms, the Treaty will have a positive impact on international law, international humanitarian law and human rights. By prohibiting arms transfers in certain cases and by imposing the obligation on exporting States to assess whether the arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious acts of violence against women or children, the Treaty will contribute in a concrete manner to reducing human suffering and ensuring peace, security and stability.

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Statement
Justice, Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform

  • Country

    Australia

  • Extracts

    Assistance to States in managing their own weapons— those held by their security forces — will often be the starting point. For States emerging from conflict, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for former combatants must be carefully designed and implemented, and weapons accounted for. Security sector reform must include effective weapons management. Such transition processes must be inclusive, with women's participation being crucial. Existing controls, including national regulations and arms embargoes, must be fully implemented. Regional organizations will often be able to play a pivotal role.

Download full
Statement
UN Security Council Members
Non UN Security Council Members