July 14, 2021.
The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) is a global problem that prolongs conflicts, facilitates violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and puts civilians at high risk of death or injury from weapons-related violence. Marking and tracing SALW and ammunition is key to addressing this proliferation. Most illicit small arms and light weapons begin as legally manufactured, imported or legally owned weapons that are subsequently diverted to the illicit realm.
Marking and tracing enables the systematic tracking of illicit small arms or light weapons from their point of manufacture or most recent import, through their lines of supply, to their last legal title-holder, in order to determine the point, in space and time, at which they became illicit. Given that illicit SALW and ammunition are easily smuggled across national borders, international cooperation in marking and tracing is also vital.
Effective marking and tracing forms part of the vital work to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically to provide data relevant to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 16.4.2 (“proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments”), which will assist in verifying the fulfilment of SDG target 16.4 (which includes “significantly reducing illicit financial and arms flows”).