Committee: Disarmament and International Security

Committee
Agenda: Reassessment of the role of states to
establish transparent international standards of
arms trade for curbing the illicit trafficking of arms
and ammunition
Portfolio: The United Kingdom

It is without question the possession of arms, conventional or otherwise, are a double edged
sword. While firearms, nuclear weapons and the sort are an important tool in mandating the
United Kingdom, the UN as well as its member states’ peacekeeping missions, if ended in the
wrong hands, can pose significant consequences, ranging from lawlessness to genocide.
Acknowledging the UK’s position in being one of the largest legally traded arms exporters in the
world, London urges fellow countries in the world to control and regulate illegal arms trade and
establish proper protocols and policies to curb the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition; as
well as encourages international cooperation in achieving a safer, less dangerous world.

The United Kingdom is proud to say that we have been forerunners in regulating illicit arms
trade and encourage ‘The settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in such a
manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered in accordance with
Article 2 (3) of the Charter of the United Nations;’ Furthermore, the UK is pleased to support the
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research in a project to integrate conventional arms
control into conflict prevention work. Additionally, the United Kingdom acceded to the Arms
Trade Treaty, and actively encourages other countries to ratify and accede to this treaty.
Reiterating the United Kingdom’s active participation in the legal arms trade and acknowledging
the world wide problem that is illicit arms exchange, the UK government has responded to this
issue as follows:
● Established a commission tasked with combating illegal human trafficking, pursuing
“responsible and transparent” policies on legal transfers, and facilitating the removal
and destruction of weapons.
● Working towards an agreement with the European Union (EU) and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), pledging its support for the 2001 United
Nations Plan of Action on Small Arms.
● The UK Small Arms and Light Weapons Program has announced that it will work on a
practical program to reduce the amount of weapons in circulation over the next three
years.
● The UK pledged support to governments and civil society organizations in affected areas
to build political commitment and effective management
 ● The UK announced it would support a United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
initiative to send British experts to the field to help countries develop their own weapons
collection, management and destruction programmes.

In light to the agenda at hand, the United Kingdom recommends the following factors be
considered in developing solutions to the aforementioned agenda.:
● A comprehensive response should integrate the perspectives of defense, development,
foreign policy, law enforcement and trade and needs to work in partnership with
international institutions
● Agreements to control arms will have little impact unless they are matched by efforts to
collect, securely manage and destroy the illegal weapons in circulation
● Peace accords must provide for demobilization, disarmament and the rehabilitation of
combatants
● Peacekeeping operations must make provision for weapons collection and destruction
● These measures will only be effective if they take place within the framework of a
programme for Security Sector Reform — the remodeling of the military forces and
structures appropriate to the legitimate defense needs of a country.

Reiterating UK’s stance taken on the 73rd UNGA Thematic Debate on the UK’s statement on
Conventional Weapons,
‘International co-operation and the effective operation of a rules based international
system are our best hope of tackling the threats to life and security, and are essential to building a
safer world. ‘

Bibliography:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file
/393752/WEB_TS_1.2015_Arms_Cm_8993.pdf
https://gsdrc.org/document-library/small-arms-and-light-weapons-a-uk-policy-briefing/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/current-arms-embargoes-and-other-restrictions
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-threat-posed-by-illicit-flows-of-small-arms-and-lig
ht-weapons
https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/statement-by-uk-cw.pdf