Small Arms and Light Weapons

Small arms are weapons designed for use by an individual. Some examples of small arms include: revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, assault rifles, sub-machine guns, light machine-guns, hand grenades and land mines.

Light weapons are designed for use by a group of individuals. A few examples of light weapons are: heavy machine-guns, mortars, grenade launchers, portable antiaircraft and antitank guns, and portable missile launchers.

Terms ‘small arms' and ‘light weapons' are often used together as SALW.

Small Arms Proliferation is Threat to Human rights

Due to low cost, wide availability, simplicity in use and durability, SALW have become "weapons of mass destruction" by causing half a million civilian deaths a year. Millions of citizens are injured as well.

While death and physical injury are direct impacts of use of SALW, there are a number of indirect impacts, such as forced displacement, property confiscation, rape, child participation in conflict, loss of family members and friends, and torture.

Indirect impacts of small arms and light weapons (such as displacement), result in limited or no access to basic education and healthcare, which causes long-term socio-economic stagnation.

The presence and use of small arms and light weapons hinder the prevention of conflicts and post-conflict reconciliation.

As the United Nations Report in 1999 suggests, "the proliferation of small arms…affects the intensity and duration of violence and encourages militancy…" Wide availability of small arms encourages violent solutions and makes dialogue and reconciliation impossible.

Franciscans International's Advocacy Efforts

As part of peacemaking advocacy at the United Nations, Franciscans International monitors First Committee on Disarmament and International Security and participates in working groups with other Non-Governmental Organizations and a number of Member States to promote and make recommendations in international efforts to combat illicit arms trade and gun violence.

Franciscans International will participate in preparation for the Biennial Meeting of States at the UN Headquarters in New York, July 2005. During the Biennial Meeting of States, Member States, regional organizations, and members of civil society will address issues, such as transparency in arms trade, victim assistance and reparation, and national control measures.

In order to advocate for a human rights approach in addressing proliferation of small arms and light weapons at the United Nations, Franciscans International has prepared a questionnaire on human rights violations resulting from the use of small arms.

The questionnaire aims to gather information on specific instances of human rights violations committed by SALW and recommendations from Franciscans peacemakers who live and/or are involved in communities, where the presence and misuse of small arms constitute serious threats to human rights and undermine peace and reconciliation.

Franciscans International's previous efforts include an oral statement during the UN Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects in July, 2001 at UN Headquarters in New York.

During this intervention, Franciscans International's representative emphasised the negative effects of the SALW availability on the culture of peace and human development. [Full Text]

Small Arms and Light Weapons Questionnaire in English Spanish French (coming soon)

If you have any questions/comments, please e-mail Maria Karapetyan.