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The
Geneva Process on Small Arms
Activities
| Date |
Theme |
Speakers/Participants |
| 22 April 2008 | Geneva Process on Small Arms This was a special meeting of the Geneva Process timed to coincide with the second visit to Geneva of Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis of Lithuania in his capacity of Chair-designate of the 3rd biennial meeting of States to consider implementation of the UN Programme of Action. The meeting focused on the role of the four Facilitators appointed by Ambassador Cekuolis in preparing, structuring and following up on the substantive discussions that will take place at the biennial meeting on (1) International cooperation and assistance and national capacity-building; (2) illicit brokering; (3) stockpile management and surplus disposal, and (4) the International Tracing Instrument. We invited the facilitators on each of these issues – Colombia, Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Egypt, respectively – to brief us on their plans in this regard. Our meeting also explored how to transform the substantive discussions at the biennial meeting into concrete, action-oriented outcomes and how the Geneva Process might be able to assist and support the Facilitators in their important task. |
Chair: Speaker: Ambassador Clemencia Forero Ucros |
| 5
February 2008 |
Geneva
Process on Small Arms
The meeting was dedicated
to an informal discussion with the Chair-designate of the third
biennial meeting of States, Ambassador Dalius Cekuolis, Permanent
Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations in New York,
who was in Geneva to conduct open-ended consultations. In order
not to duplicate the general discussions that may take place
during his open-ended consultations, our meeting focused specifically
on the important question of identifying priority issues for
the biennial meeting, as stipulated by the 62nd UN General Assembly
small arms omnibus resolution (A/RES/62/47). |
Chair: Speaker: |
| 11 December 2007 |
Geneva Process on Small Arms
The substantive focus of the meeting was on ammunition tracing.
We also took the opportunity to review small arms-related work
in this year’s First Committee and assess its implications
for how the Geneva Process should carry out its work during 2008,
in particular in the run-up to the July 14-18 biennial meeting
of States. |
Chair: Speaker: |
| 4 October 2007 | Geneva Process on Small Arms Following on from the substantive focus of the previous meeting
on transfer controls and diversion, we briefly reviewed the Canadian
Informal Meeting on Transfer Control Principles for Small Arms
and Light Weapons, held in Geneva on August 27-31, and discussed
its contribution to implementing the UN Programme of Action’s
provisions on this issue. |
Chair: Speakers: |
| 24 August 2007 | Geneva Process on Small Arms
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Tim Caughley, Director of the Geneva Branch
of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, who took over from
Ambassador Millar of Australia and who coordinated the work of the Geneva
Process for the remainder of this year. |
Chair: Mr. Tim Caughley Director, Geneva Branch, UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
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| 19 June 2007 | Geneva
Process on Small Arms
The first part of the meeting was devoted to reports from the
Coordinators of the two Geneva Process working groups on, respectively,
improving the effectiveness of biennial meetings of States and
improving mechanisms for assessing needs and matching them with
resources in the context of implementing the Programme of Action.
In the second part of the meeting, we heard a presentation from
Mr. Richard Kidd of the U.S. State Department on small arms surplus
destruction and stockpile management. |
Chair: H.E. Ms. Caroline Millar Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Invited Speaker:
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| 16 April 2007 | Geneva
Process on Small Arms
The substantive core of the meeting focussed on small arms export
and brokering controls. Mr. Ted Seay, Senior Political Advisor
with the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional
Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies shared experiences on
these subjects. |
Chair: H.E. Ms. Caroline Millar Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Invited Speaker:
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26 February 2007 |
Geneva Process on Small Arms This meeting was designed to inform about the launch of a renewed and strengthened “Geneva process” to promote effective implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). The initiative being launched by the Geneva Forum aims to provide States committed to addressing small arms proliferation and misuse with a forum in which they can make real progress towards achieving specific objectives; namely:
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Chair:
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Beginning of Phase II of the Geneva Process on Small Arms
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| 25 September 2006 | 29th
Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms |
Chair: |
| 2 May 2006 | 28th
Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the
UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The final segment of the meeting was reserved for the sharing
of information on small arms-related issues, including
recent or upcoming
conferences, the publication of new reports, etc. |
Chair: H.E. Mr. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Invited Speaker: Participants: |
| 29 March 2006 | 27th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The meeting,
which took place between the President-designate's March 27 and
March
30 consultations in New York, was devoted
to a discussion
of part 2 of his non-paper on "Concrete Measures to Strengthen
Implementation at National, Regional and Global Levels" of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms. This non-paper was circulated
the day before to Permanent Missions in New York. |
Chair: H.E. Mr. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Participants: |
| 20 March 2006 | 26th
Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the
UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
The meeting was devoted to an exchange of views with the President-designate
of the first PoA Review Conference, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam
of Sri Lanka. The participation of Ambassador Kariyawasam provided
a valuable opportunity to Geneva Process participants to provide
input and suggestions to the President-designate on the Review
Conference and its outcome. |
Chair: H.E. Mr. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Invited Speakers: H.E. Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, Participants: |
| 1 March 2006 | 25th Meeting of the Geneva Process to
Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
The starting-point of our meeting was a reflection on the Review Conference Preparatory Committee that took place in New York in January. In particular, it was useful to focus on lessons that can be learned from the PrepCom that might be useful in helping governments prepare for the Review Conference. The core of our meeting focused on preparations for the Review Conference itself. The focal-point was the non-paper by the Chair-designate of the Review Conference, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam of Sri Lanka. This non-paper set out some options regarding the substance of a draft final document of the Review Conference, as well as its indicative timetable and proceedings. |
Chair: H.E. Mr. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Participants: |
| 15 December 2005 | 24th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
In response to an invitation by the Geneva Forum, the Chair-designate of the Preparatory Committee for the first Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms – H.E. Dr. Sylvester E. Rowe, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the UN in New York – visited Geneva on December 14-16. During his visit, he conducted open-ended and bilateral consultations with UN Member States and participated in numerous other meetings facilitated by the Geneva Forum. A principal reason for his visit was to participate in the 24th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms. The bulk of this meeting was dedicated to an exchange of views with Ambassador Rowe on substantive and procedural issues surrounding the Preparatory Committee as well as the Review Conference itself. In addition, there was a brief presentation of the preliminary results of an analysis of all PoA national implementation reports submitted by States between 2002 and 2005. This analysis, in the process of being finalised by UNIDIR, UNDDA, UNDP and the Small Arms Survey, drew lessons from States’ reporting on their implementation of the PoA that have relevance for the Review Conference and its preparatory process. At the close of the meeting, Ambassador François Rivasseau of France reported on the progress of the Geneva Process sub-group on communications, established at our last meeting to develop strategies for raising public awareness of the humanitarian impact of small arms proliferation and misuse. |
Chair: H.E. Mr. Wegger Christian Strømmen, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations Invited Speakers: Participants:
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| 15 November 2005 | 23rd Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
This meeting began with the usual exchange of information on global, regional and national initiatives related to the implementation of the UN Programme of Action. In particular, there were reports on a seminar organised by the Geneva Forum in Glen Cove, New York, on 30 September – 2 October; on the meeting of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons held in Mexico City on 19-21 October; and on the ASEAN Regional Forum small arms seminar held in Phnom Penh on 2-4 November. The small arms-related draft resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly’s First Committee were also presented. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to discussing the preparatory process for the 2006 small arms Review Conference in light of the discussions that took place in First Committee. Ambassador Pasi Patokallio (Finland’s Ambassador to Canada) provided his perspective on the preparatory process, drawing in particular on his experience as Chair of the second Biennial Meeting of States in July 2005. The UN Department for Disarmament Affairs also briefed participants on open-ended consultations on the 2006 Review Conference held in New York on October 19. These presentations were followed by an open discussion on what needs to be achieved at the January Preparatory Committee and what form and approach it should take. The final segment of the meeting returned to the question of awareness-raising around the small arms Programme of Action with a view to putting into motion some of the plans discussed in at previous meetings.
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Chair: H.E. Mr. Luis Alfonso de Alba, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations. Invited Speakers: H.E. Mr. Pasi Patokallio, Ambassador of Finland to Canada; Chair of the second Biennial Meeting of States to consider implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms Participants:
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| 15 September 2005 | 22nd Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
The 22nd meeting of the Geneva Process on Small Arms dealt with the following issues:
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Chair: H.E. Mr. Luis Alfonso de Alba, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations. Invited Speakers: Participants:
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| 28 June 2005 | 21st Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 21st meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms focused on the following issues:
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Chair: Dr. David Atwood, Director, Quaker United Nations Office Participants:
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| 14 April 2005 | 20th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
The 20th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms focused on the following issues:
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Chair: Mr. Peter Herby, Head, Mines/Arms Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Invited Speakers: Dr. Owen Greene, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK. Mr. Adrian Wilkinson, Team Leader, South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), Serbia and Montenegro. Mr. Daniël Prins, Counsellor, Delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Conference on Disarmament. Participants:
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| 10 February 2005 | 19th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This meeting was devoted to an exchange of views between Geneva Process participants and H.E. Mr. Pasi Patokallio – Ambassador of Finland to Canada and Chair-designate of the second Biennial Meeting of States to consider implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms – on the following questions:
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Chair: David Atwood, Director, Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Invited Speaker: Participants:
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| 19 January 2005 | 18th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The meeitng began, as usual, with a general round of information-sharing on global activities related to the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms. This information is added to the ever-growing database on the Small Arms Survey website that tracks global implementation of the UN Programme of Action. The remainder the the meeting focuses on two issues: Draft Tracing Instrument: The Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on tracing small arms, Ambassador Anton Thalmann of Switzerland, had recently released a first draft on an “International Instrument for the Timely and Reliable Identification and Tracing of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons." Mr. Ilhan Berkol of the Groupe de recherche et d'Information sur la paix et la sécurité (GRIP) in Belgium made an introductory presentation on the draft text, which was followed by a discussion. The Second Biennial Meeting of States: Participants discussed the following questions concerning the structure and themes of the second Biennial Meeting of States (BMS2) to review implementation of the UN Programme of Action, scheduled to take place on 11-15 July 2005:
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Chair: Invited
Speaker: Participants:
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| 17 November 2004 | 17th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of
the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms
This meeting focused on three main issues: Recent activities around the world connected with implementing the UN Programme of Action on small arms: An overview was presented of information collected since the previous Geneva Process meeting on activities in various countries and regions related to the implementation of the UN Programme of Action. Further information was also provided by representatives of Sweden, Thailand, QUNO and Saferworld. The information shared was entered into the Geneva Process Programme of Action Implementation database, hosted by the Small Arms Survey. Small arms-related work at the UN General Assembly First Committee: Participants discussed the various small arms-related draft resolutions and decisions to emerge from the 2004 session of the UN General Assembly First Committee (4 October – 5 November) as well as their implications for preparations for the 2005 Biennial Meeting of States and the 2006 Review Conference. The discussion also included feedback on the informal consultations of the Open-Ended Working Group on tracing small arms that took place on the margins of the First Committee. Raising global public awareness of the humanitarian consequences of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons: Simon Gray of Oxfam Great Britain’s Campaigns Department gave a presentation on the importance of raising global public awareness of the humanitarian consequences of the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons and on ways and means of doing so. Participants discussed the role that governments and organisations participating in the Geneva Process might play in making the public more aware of small arms-related problems.
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Chair: Mr. Peter Herby, Head, Mines/Arms Unit, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Invited Speaker:
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| 8 September 2004 |
16th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This meeting began with a general round of information-sharing on global activities related to the implementation of the UN Programme of Action. This information is added to the ever-growing database on the Small Arms Survey website that tracks global implementation of the UN Programme of Action. The principal procedural issues discussed at this meeting were:
The substantive segment of the meeting focused on Man-portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and on national, regional and international efforts to prevent their illicit proliferation and misuse. A presentation by James Bevan of the Small Arms Survey formed the core of this discussion. The meeting also examined the progress of draft resolutions being prepared for the 59th session of the UNGA First Committee and included a briefing by the Geneva Process Chair on a planned press/media event to highlight the work that the Geneva Process is doing to help implement the UN Programme of Atction on small arms.
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Chair: Invited
Speaker: Participants:
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| 1 July 2004 | 15th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms began with an exchange of information on global implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons. The remainder of the meeting dealt with three main issues; (1) the Open-Ended Working Group on Tracing Small Arms, (2) the broad-based consultations on small arms brokering, and (3) preparations for the 2005 Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) and the 2006 meeting to review implementation of the Programme of Action. Brian Wood of Amnesty International reported back on the broad-based consultations on small arms brokering that took place in New York on 11 June, organised by the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs. The discussion on this issue centred on assessing the outcome of the Geneva and New York consultations to date and on next steps that might be taken on this issue, including preparations for this year’s meting of the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) First Committee. Thomas Greminger of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs reported to the group on the outcome of the first substantive session of the Open Ended Working Group on Tracing Small Arms, which took place in New York on 14-25 June. Participants went on to discuss what needed to be done in advance of the second substantive session, scheduled to take place early in 2005. Participants also exchanged views on preparations for the second Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) in 2005, in particular what needs to be done before, during and after the UNGA First Committee to ensure that the meeting is a success. Participants also discussed what would have to be done now and at the second BMS to lay the proper groundwork for the 2006 review meeting.
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Chair: Invited Speakers: Mr. Brian Wood, Amnesty International Mr. Thomas Greminger, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Participants:
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| 7 June 2004 | 14th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 14th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms focused on the issue of small arms demand. Participants explored what is actually meant when one speaks of “demand” for small arms and light weapons, how the issue of demand relates to the UN Programme of Action, and what the latest research on small arms demand tells us. The discussion was preceded by three introductory presentations: David Atwood, Director of the Quaker United Nations Office, highlighted those elements of the UN Programme of Action on small arms that relate to addressing the demand for small arms and light weapons. Keith Krause and Robert Muggah, Director and Senior Researcher, respectively, at the Small Arms Survey, focused on the research agenda surrounding the question of small arms demand and presented preliminary results from research recently carried out in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Participants also continued the general exchange of views, initiated at the previous Geneva Process meeting, on the 2nd Biennial Meeting of States. They outlined their expectations for this meeting and provided some suggestions as to how the Geneva Process might foster good preparation for it. During
the segment set aside for sharing information on global implementation
of the
UN Programme of Action, Ambassador Christian Faessler of Switzerland
briefed participants on the Open-Ended Working Group on Tracing
Small Arms and the non-paper produced by the Group’s Chairman;
Philip Owade of Kenya introduced the newly signed Nairobi Protocol
on Small Arms and Light Weapons; Valère Mantels of UNDDA
briefed participants on the progress of the broad-based consultations
on small arms brokering; and Valerie Yankey provided her usual
overview
of recent activities around the world aimed at implementing the
UN Programme of Action on small arms. |
Chair: Speakers: Dr. David Atwood, Director, Quaker United Nations Office, Geneva Prof. Keith Krause, Programme Director, Small Arms Survey Mr. Robert Muggah, Senior Researcher, Small Arms Survey Participants:
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| 6 April 2004 | 13th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 13th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms focused on the “Vienna Firearms Protocol” or, to give it its full title, The Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. This Protocol was opened for signature in the same month – July 2001 – that the UN Conference agreed on its Programme of Action (PoA) on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. In contrast to the UN PoA, the Vienna Firearms Protocol is a legally binding global instrument that covers many of the pressing issues being discussed today within the framework of the UN PoA and elsewhere – e.g., marking and tracing, export controls, stockpile management, brokering, collection and destruction, criminalisation, and international cooperation and assistance. An important difference between the Firearms Protocol and the UN PoA, however, is that the former only addresses commercial transactions in firearms, and exempts state-to-state transactions and transfers. The Vienna Firearms Protocol has not yet entered into force and, in fact, is making quite slow progress towards doing so. To date, while 51 countries and the European Union have signed the Firearms Protocol, only 14 have ratified it (40 ratifications are required for the Protocol to enter into force). Mr. Eduardo Vetere, Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs at the UN Office for Drugs and Crime in Vienna, gave a presentation on the Protocol, covering its genesis and raison d’etre, its adoption by the General Assembly and opening for signature in 2001, and a detailed analysis of its provisions. Mr. Michael Hallowes, Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police Service at New Scotland Yard in London, made a presentation giving a policing perspective on the Vienna Firearms Protocol, with particular emphasis on its provisions on criminalisation, record-keeping and marking. A portion of the meeting was also devoted to a preliminary discussion of the 2nd Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) to consider implementation of the UN PoA, scheduled to take place in 2005. Participants briefly outlined their expectations for this meeting as well as their ideas on how the Geneva Process might foster good preparation for it.
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Chair: Invited Speakers: Mr.
Eduardo Vetere, Director, Division for Treaty Affairs,
United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna. Mr.
Michael Hallowes, Detective Chief Inspector, Metropolitan
Police Service, New Scotland Yard, London. Participants:
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| 20 February 2004 | 12th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 12th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms had as its main focus a detailed exposition of the draft “Framework Convention on International Arms Transfers” (more commonly known as the “Arms Trade Treaty”), a nongovernmental initiative that is being promoted by the recently launched “Control Arms” campaign headed by Oxfam, Amnesty International and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). Debbie Hillier of Oxfam GB gave a detailed presentation on the background, content and future development of the Arms Trade Treaty, which was followed by a detailed discussion. In addition, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) provided an update on their project on “Capacity Building for Reporting to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms” and the Geneva Forum reported back on a two-day meeting it had held on “The Role of Regional Organisations in Stemming the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.”
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Chair: Invited Speakers: Ms.
Debbie Hillier, Policy Advisor, Oxfam Great Britain Participants
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| 10 December 2003 | 11th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 11th meeting of the Geneva Process to promote implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons had as its focus the issue of small arms brokering. Introductory presentations on this issue were given by Mr. Brian Wood of Amnesty International, who outlined the nature and extent of the problem, Ambassadors Chris Sanders (The Netherlands) and Sten Anders Berge (Norway), who gave an introduction to the Dutch/Norwegian initiative on small arms brokering and, in particular, the initiative’s activities at the regional level, and Ms. Silvia Cattaneo of the Small Arms Survey, who presented a review of national legislation regulating the activities of small arms brokers. The meeting also included the usual exchange of information related to the global implementation of the UN Programme of Action, as well as the introduction of the OSCE handbook of best practices on small arms and light weapons and volume 2 of the publication “The Geneva Forum: Seminars on Small Arms.”
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Chair: Invited Speakers: Mr. Brian Wood, Amnesty International Ambassador Chris Sanders, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Conference on Disarmament Ambassador Sten Anders Berge, Ambassador-at-large for Small Arms, Norway Ms. Silvia Cattaneo, Researcher, Small Arms Survey Patricipants:
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| 10 September 2003 | 10th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 10th meeting of the Geneva Process took stock of the First Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) to review implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms and discussed what needed to happen in the area of small arms controls before the Second BMS in 2005 and the first Review Conference in 2006. Opening presentations on these issues were made by Dr. Joao Honwana (Director of the Conventional Arms Branch of the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs), Ms. Ann Pollack (Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the Conference on Disarmament) and Mr. Henry Smith (Head of Arms and Security at Saferworld/Biting the Bullet). Participants also shared new information related to the worldwide implementation of the UN Programme of action, including information on a new training handbook from Saferworld/Oxfam/International Alert entitled “Action Against Small Arms, on the updated Programme of Action Implementation Database and on donor support for small arms programmes. |
Chair: Invited Speakers: Dr. Joao Honwana, Director, Conventional Arms Branch, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs Ms. Ann Pollack, Deputy Permanent Representative of Canada to the Conference on Disarmament Mr. Henry Smith, Head of Arms and Security, Saferworld Participants:
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| 24 June 2003
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9th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 9th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms - the last before the first UN Biennial Meeting to consider implementation of the Programme of Action (7-11 July 2003, New York) - considered how to make the most of the thematic discussion scheduled to take place at the first UN Biennial meeting. Participants also cast a critical eye on the work of the Geneva Process since its first meeting on 17 May 2002, decided to continue the Geneva Process on small arms following the Biennial Meeting and offered some ideas regarding its future shape and work. |
Chair: Participants:
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| 22 May 2003
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8th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 8th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms considered the following issues:
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Chair: Invited Speakers: Mr. Conmany B. Wesseh, West African Action Network on Small Arms Ambassador Kuniko Inoguchi, Permanent Representative of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament Mr. Iain Hall, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Participants:
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| 2 April 2003
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7th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 7th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms involved a general exchange of ideas, intentions and hopes for the first UN biennial meeting to consider implementation of the Programme of Action. This exchange included, in particular, the perspectives of governments, civil society and International Organisations. The previous meeting of the Geneva Process underlined the importance of ensuring high quality reporting to the first biennial meeting and discussed ways and means of evaluating the progress and impact of implementing the Programme of Action. This meeting followed up on that discussion in a more general way by posing the question: what do governments, civil society and international organisations hope to achieve at the first UN biennial meeting? In other words, how are they approaching the meeting in general, what are their intentions regarding their participation in the meeting, and what do they hope the outcome of the meeting will be?
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Chair: Participants:
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| 11 February 2003
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6th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 6th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms addressed the following issues:
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Chair: Participants:
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| 12 December 2002
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5th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The purpose of this 5th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms was to initiate a detailed (and ongoing) discussion on the identification of priority needs related to the implementation of the PoA and the means by which these needs can best be matched with available "resources" - defined broadly as not only financial resources but also human, institutional, knowledge-based, etc. The discussion opened with brief presentations by Marcel Halma (The Netherlands) and Bennie Lombard,Rob Wensley and Nick Sendall (South Africa), who took as their starting-point the report of the “African Conference on the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms: Needs and Partnerships."
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Chair: Participants:
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| 6 November 2003
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4th Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms The 4th meeting of the Geneva Process on small arms discussed overall preparations for the First UN Biennial Meeting to consider implementation of the Programme of Action and, in particular, optional guidelines for states to consult in the process of preparing national reports for the Biennial Metting.
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Chair: Patricipants:
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| 27 August 2002
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3rd Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This third meeting of the Geneva process began, as usual, with the Geneva Forum distributing to participants an updated and expanded "composite document" containing detailed information on the implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) worldwide. The main purpose of this meeting was to exchange experience in appointing national points of contact to act as liaison between states on matters relating to the implementation of the PoA. In advance of the meeting, the Geneva Forum had circulated a list of detailed questions on this issue, the responses to which formed the basis of discussion. The meeting also discussed in detail the resolution on small arms that would be placed before the 57th session of the UN General Assembly later this year, with the Japanese Disarmament Ambassador providing an overview of the content of the draft resolution. A detailed discussion developed on the importance of beginning preparations as soon as possible for the first biennial meeting in 2003 where states will report on their efforts to date to implement the PoA. A procedure was agreed by participants, which could allow a chair designate for the biennial meeting to be identified shortly, allowing in turn the UN Department for Disarmament Affairs to assist the chair designate with early and comprehensive preparations.
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Chair: Participants:
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| 25 June 2002
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2nd Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This second meeting of the Geneva Process on implementing the UN Programme of Action (PoA) on small arms was the first to be chaired by a government representative. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate an initial exchange of national experience in implementing the Programme of Action to date. To prepare the ground for this discussion, the Geneva Forum distributed at the meeting a composite document containing information related to implementing the PoA gleaned from a variety of sources. This document will be continually updated as the Geneva Process generates new information and will serve as a useful central source of information relating to PoA implementation. The UN Department for Disarmament Affairs provided an update of its work concerning the PoA, including a feasibility study being conducted by a group of governmental experts on tracing illicit small arms and the compilation of a list of National Points of Contact on the illicit trade in small arms. The Small Arms Survey requested feedback from participants on the utility of developing optional guidelines that states could consult in the process of preparing national reports for the 2003 biennial meeting.
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Chair: Participants:
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| 17 May 2002
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1st Meeting of the Geneva Process to Support Implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms This meeting marked the beginning of a new Geneva Forum initiative to create a "Geneva Process" in support of implementing the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons adopted in July 2001. The initiative aims to harness the critical mass of small arms expertise that exists in Geneva by creating a forum of committed actors that would meet on a regular basis in support of individual government, regional and global initiatives towards the implementation of the Programme of Action. The overall intention is that this Geneva-based process will help to build political will for concrete steps to tackle the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and will create an environment for exchanging information as well as discussing specific needs and steps in the run-up to the first biennial meeting in 2003. Participants expressed broad support for the initiative and for the purpose and principles outlined in the "framework document" distributed by the Geneva Forum, which acts as core set of principles for the process.
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