Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons - Sixth Biennial Meeting of States (2016)

<div id="wp-block-unodablocks-sections"><div><div class="wp-block-unodablocks-overview wp-block-unodablocks-section" id="wp-block-unodablocks-section-overview" style="max-height:200px;height:200px" data-mxheight="200" data-height="200" data-blockid="overview" data-level="1"><h2 class="section-title">Overview</h2>
<p>Biennial Meetings of States have the mandate to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and its International Tracing Instrument (ITI).</p>

<p>The <strong>Sixth Biennial Meeting of States </strong>on the Programme of Action was held from <strong>6 to 10 June 2016</strong> in New York. </p>

<p></p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://documents.unoda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/BMS6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-9034" width="576" height="432"/></figure>

<p>Secretariat Contact: <a href="mailto:conventionalarms-unoda@un.org?subject=Website%20Enquiry">convent…;
</div></div><div><div class="wp-block-unodablocks-background wp-block-unodablocks-section" id="wp-block-unodablocks-section-background" style="max-height:800px;height:1678.3333740234375px" data-mxheight="800" data-height="1678.3333740234375" data-blockid="background" data-level="1"><h2 class="section-title">Background</h2>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default"/>

<p>In 2001, countries adopted the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). In it, governments agreed to improve national small arms regulations, to strengthen stockpile management, to ensure that weapons are properly and reliably marked, to improve cooperation in weapons tracing, and to engage in regional and international cooperation and assistance.</p>

<p><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://undocs.org/en/A/CONF.192/15(SUPP)" target="_blank"><strong>Programme of Action</strong></a></p>

<p><strong>Marking, record-keeping, and tracing</strong></p>

<p>In 2005, the General Assembly adopted the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), which specifically provides a framework for cooperation in weapons tracing – thus fulfilling one of the commitments governments made in the PoA.</p>

<p><strong>International Tracing Instrument <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Arabi…; target="_blank">[A]</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Chine…; target="_blank">[C]</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Engli…; target="_blank">[E]</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Frenc…; target="_blank">[F]</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Russi…; target="_blank">[R]</a> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/ITI_Spani…; target="_blank">[S]</a></strong></p>

<p>Improving weapons tracing is also part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.</p>

<p>Meetings and national reports on PoA and ITI are always combined.</p>

<p><strong>Periodic review of implementation</strong></p>

<p>A conference to review the progress made in the implementation of the PoA is convened every six years. Between review conferences, Biennial Meetings of States (BMS) are held. Additionally, States have held Meetings of Governmental Experts (MGE) to benefit from the knowledge of technical specialists on matters pertaining to small arms and light weapons control.</p>

<p><em>Timeline PoA process and meetings</em></p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://documents.unoda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Timeline_BMS6.jp…; alt="" class="wp-image-9817"/></figure>

<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-dots"/>

<p></p>
</div></div><div><div class="wp-block-unodablocks-officers wp-block-unodablocks-section" id="wp-block-unodablocks-section-officers" style="max-height:800px;height:1678.3333740234375px" data-mxheight="800" data-height="1678.3333740234375" data-blockid="officers" data-level="1"><h2 class="section-title">Officers</h2>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default"/>

<div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><figure class="alignleft size-large"><img src="https://documents.unoda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Photo_Ambassador…; alt="" class="wp-image-8991"/></figure></div>

<p><strong>Ambassador Courtenay Rattray</strong></p>

<p>Ambassador Courtenay Rattray is the Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations, a post to which he was appointed on 1st June 2013. Prior to this appointment, he served as Jamaica’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, from December 2008 until May 2013. </p>

<p>He was appointed as Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UN Security Council Reform in November 2014. He also served as the Chair of the 69th Session of the UN Committee on Disarmament and International Security (First Committee) and Chair of the Permanent Memorial Committee for the UN’s project to erect a memorial in honour of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. He was the Co-Facilitator of the UN consultation process on the modalities and outcome document for the comprehensive review and assessment of progress achieved in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, from May-July 2014. </p>

<p>During his public service career, Ambassador Rattray served as Director for Bilateral Relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, as well Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington DC. Prior to this, he was Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and previously the Special Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Investment. </p>

<p>Before joining the public service, Ambassador Rattray was the Executive Director of the Jamaica Marketing Company Ltd., a trading company based in the UK owned by the Government of Jamaica. He has also served as Jamaica’s Trade Commissioner in London. </p>

<p>Ambassador Rattray holds a BA in International Studies from West Virginia Wesleyan College, a MSc. in International Business from South Bank University in London, and a MA (Global Master of Arts Program) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Boston, where he gave the Commencement Address to the GMAP Graduating Class of 2015. </p>

<p>He is married to Tanya and has four children.</p>

<p>Contact: <a href="mailto:jamaica@un.int?subject=Website%20Enquiry">jamaica@un.int</a></p&…;
</div></div><div><div class="wp-block-unodablocks-document-segments wp-block-unodablocks-section" id="wp-block-unodablocks-section-document-segments" style="max-height:800px;height:1678.3333740234375px" data-mxheight="800" data-height="1678.3333740234375" data-blockid="document-segments" data-level="1"><h2 class="section-title">Segments</h2>
<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default"/>

<p>Letters from the Chairperson-designate:</p>

<ul class="is-style-none"><li><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/BMS6-Chair-de… June 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-05-27-Le… May 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-05-13-Le… May 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016-04-20-BM… April 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/0… March 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/0… 2016</a></li><li><a href="https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/0… February 2016</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/0…; target="_blank">18 December 2015</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://unoda-web.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/0…; target="_blank">8 December 2015</a></li></ul>

<p></p>

<hr class="wp-block-separator is-style-default"/>

<p>Member States, International and Regional Organizations, and UN entities at the United Nations Headquarters on the occasion of the Sixth Biennial Meeting of States to Consider the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects </p>

<p><em>New York, 6-10 June 2016</em></p>

<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-events">
<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day">6</span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month">June</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year">2016</span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Presentation on the progress of the iTrace-project</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">European Union</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15 - 2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR 4</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Weapons and Gender: Preventing gender-based violence and promoting equality through implementation of the ATT and UNPoA</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Women's International League for Peace and Freedom</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR D</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Flyer-UNREC-U… in Africa in Support of the Implementation of the Programme of Action</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">UNREC in cooperation with ECOWAS and UNDP Nigeria Country Office</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR C</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unoda-web/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Invitatio… Operations in Action: Developing Capacity in Weapons and Ammunition Management, Case Study from Côte d'Ivoire</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Lithuania in cooperation with UNMAS</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR 7</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unoda-web/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Switzerla…, Transparency and Illicit Trafficking</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Switzerland in cooperation with Small Arms Survey</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR 12</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Relationship between SALW - Treaties/Programme of Action and SDG 16.4</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Group of Interested States in Practical Disarmament Measures in cooperation with UNODA, IANSA, SAS and Control Arms</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">German House (871 UN Plaza, NY)</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">End-use control and post-delivery verification. Are arms exporting countries doing all they can to stop diversion?</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">GRIP</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:45 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR D</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day">8</span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month">June</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year">2016</span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Advances in the implementation of the UNPoA in Central America and the Caribbean</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Guatemala in cooperation with IEPADES and REDCEPAZ</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">8:30-9:45 am</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR C</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unoda-web/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2016FR-si… Against the Illicit Trafficking in SALW: What Role for Private Actors and Civil Society</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of France</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">9:00-10:00 am</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR 6</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Implementing PoA/ITI in the Arab World</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Germany in cooperation with League of Arab States and Permanent Peace Movement</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR C</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Towards the Establishment of a National Framework for Weapons and Ammunition Management in the Federal Republic of Somalia</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Finland in cooperation with UNIDIR</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR 4</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unoda-web/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Invitatio… role of parliamentarians and health professionals in connecting the dots between the PoA and SDG16: Reducing armed violence for sustainable development</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons Sponsored by the Mission of Sweden</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm </span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">Permanent Mission of Sweden (One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 885 Second Ave, 46th Fl.)</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IANSA-6-Flyer… Synergies for Effective Implementation of the International Instruments for Small Arms Control</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">IANSA</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR D</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons Tracing System Software for Management and Control of SALW</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Rwanda in cooperation with RECSA</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">4:00-6:00 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR C</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day">9</span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month">June</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year">2016</span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">Actionable tools to support the implementation of small arms conrol measures</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Germany in cooperation with UNIDIR, Bonn International Center for Conversion and Conflict Armament Research</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:30 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR C</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day"></span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month"></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year"></span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title"><a href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IANSA-5-Flyer… Arms Control and the Sustainable Development Goals: Mutually reinforcing mechanisms to reduce gun violence</a></span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">IANSA</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">1:15-2:45 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">CR D</span></div></div>

<div class="wp-block-coblocks-event-item" data-page="undefined"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__date"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__day">10</span><div><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__month">June</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__year">2016</span></div></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__content"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__title">SALW Proliferation and Sustainable Development: Assessing the Contribution of SALW Proliferation on Fragility, Poaching and Cattle Rustling in the African Great Lakes Region</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__description" itemprop="description">Mission of Rwanda and Mission of Netherlands in cooperation with RECSA, African Development Bank and Bonn International Center for Conversion</span></div><div class="wp-block-coblocks-events__details"><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__time">12:00-2:00 pm</span><span class="wp-block-coblocks-events__location">Permanent Mission of Netherlands (666 Third Ave, 19 Fl.)</span></div></div>
</div>

<p></p>
</div></div></div>

Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons — Sixth Biennial Meeting of States

(2016)