IANSA logo
UN Top picture
Home | About Us | Regions | Key Issues | Resources | Events & Campaigns | Media | What's New | Women's Portal

 

Small arms at the UN

UN 61st General Assembly Website

First Committee 2006

voting results

People's Consultation on an ATT
 
UN General Assembly, 2006

The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is in the General Assembly that substantive issues are discussed and resolutions voted on by member states. A simple majority is required for a resolution to pass.

There were several resolutions voted on in the General Assembly relating to small arms and light weapons control. Two resolutions are particularly important - one relating to an Arms Trade Treaty and the other relating to the UN Small Arms process.

These resolutions were first proposed and debated in detail at the First Committee. The majority of IANSA's advocacy was therefore aimed at the First Commitee and similarly the majority of state's positions on these resolutions were expressed there. Please visit the First Committee page for more details.

 

Resolutions Adopted at the General Assembly

The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects

Voting Result: 176 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstained

This resolution calls for a UN meeting in 2008 for reporting on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA). The failure of the UN Review Conference (RevCon) to agree an outcome document meant that it made no decision regarding future meetings.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December)

 

Towards an Arms Trade treaty

Voting Result: 153 in favour, 1 against, 24 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 2: 148 in favour, 1 against, 22 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 3: 147 in favour, 1 against, 21 abstained

This resolution establishes a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). This has been one of the primary goals of the Control Arms campaign

Then next step in the process is for Member States to submit their views to the Secretary General. As these submissions become available, they will be posted on the Control Arms campaign site.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 18 December)

Click here to find out how your country voted

 

Problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus

Voting Result: 175 in favour, 1 against, 1 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 7: 172 in favour, 2 against, 0 abstained

This resolution establishes a GGE to consider further steps to enhance cooperation with regard to the issue of conventional ammunition stockpiles in surplus, and to transmit the report of the Group of Experts to the General Assembly for consideration at its sixty-third session.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December)

 

Transparency in Armaments

Voting Result: 158 in favour, 0 against, 21 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 2: 154 in favour, 0 against, 21 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 3: 153 in favour, 0 against, 21 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 4: 153 in favour, 0 against, 21 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 5: 154 in favour, 0 against, 21 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 6: 153 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 7B: 154 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstained

Voting Result on operative paragraph 9: 155 in favour, 0 against, 20 abstained

This resolution invites states to provide information on international transfers of small arms when they report to the UN Register of Conventional Arms, as recommended by the 2006 Group of Governmental Experts (GGE). This is an important step in promoting transparency, since existing international customs information does not provide reliable information on the quantities of small arms transferred, only the value.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December)

 

Consolidation of Peace Through Practical Disarmament Measures

Voting Result: 179 in favour, 1 against, 0 abstained

This resolution emphasises the need for UN peacekeeping operations to engage in disarmament activities and also encourages states, including those donors comprising the Group of Interested States, to support international, regional and non-governmental organisations in their post-conflict disarmament efforts.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December)

 

Assistance to States for Curbing the Illicit Traffic in Small Arms
and Light Weapons and Collecting Them

Voting Result: Adopted without a vote

This resolution encourages cooperation between civil society and states, in particular on National Commissions on SALW, and calls upon the international community to provide financial and technical support to both states and civil society in their efforts to curb the illicit trade in small arms.

Text of the final resolution (adopted by the General Assembly on 6 December)

 

 


 
 

Latest News

UN General Assembly adopts ATT Resolution

December 2006

UN General Assembly votes for historic Arms Trade Treaty proposal

UN seeks new treaty restricting global arms deals

UN to consider Arms Trade Treaty: US Opposes

Center for Defense Information, November 2006

Success for campaigners at UN First Committee

 
© IANSA 1999 - 2006

Charity web design by sitewriters