Publication

Measures to enhance the security and management of legal stocks of small arms and to reduce ‘surplus’ weapons are clearly essential components of an effective international action programme to combat illicit trafficking and prevent and reduce the proliferation of small arms. Many of the weapons of concern are lost from official stockpiles through theft, corruption or neglect. Moreover, the existence of large quantities of ‘surplus’ small arms is a major factor in the excessive availability and flows of these weapons.