Thank you Mr. President,
As shown during the preparatory work that led to this major event, your leadership and inclusive approach will of course facilitate diplomatic efforts to achieve a successful outcome: please be assured of my delegation’s full support in this direction.
Italy aligns itself with the statement of the European Union and I would like to add some remarks in my national capacity.
In an overall fraught geopolitical scenario, the proliferation of Illicit small arms and light weapons and their ammunition keeps on playing a major role in fueling instability and armed violence, while hampering sustainable development and security prospects for entire world regions. Moreover, such weapons’ illegal flows to a variety of actors, including Governments and non-governmental forces, are able to promote the emergence of terrorist groups, the violation of UN arms embargoes, as well as the rise in organized crime and gender violence.
Twenty-three years after its adoption, the Programme of Action still proves to be a valuable tool to tackle longtime challenges and emerging issues in this area. In our assessment, the reasons behind its validity lay in a variety of intertwining traits: these include the flexibility of its provisions, as well as its inherent adaptability to complement other relevant international instruments, starting from the Arms Trade Treaty, which Italy strongly supports, being actively involved in its negotiation process and among the first countries to ratify it. One more reason may refer to the momentum the PoA has given, since its very adoption, to raising global awareness on the scope and crosscutting implications of SALW illicit use, procurement, and transfers worldwide.
Furthermore, the International Tracing Instrument provided the PoA with a global operational framework to address the illicit transfer of SALW, foster transparency among States, and promote international cooperation in key areas like marking, record keeping, and tracing.
We highly value the priorities you laid out in preparation of this important Review Conference. A more incisive national ownership in the PoA and ITI implementation can be instrumental in ensuring effective control throughout the entire life cycle of small arms and light weapons, while strengthening individual States’ legislation, capabilities, and resources. On the same vein, addressing the adverse consequences of the illicit trade in SALW on peace, security, and sustainable development – with a special focus on a gender-sensitive impact of this category of weapons – reflects a high humanitarian standard in promoting a strong, sustainable, and inclusive security culture. Finally, the push for the institution of an Open Ended Technical Experts Group with a strong mandate can enrich, in our assessment, the overall process’ value providing a solid basis to grasp the immense benefits of technological advancements, without overlooking the parallel challenges associated to their impact on SALW design, manufacturing, and traceability.
Building on that, in approaching the next review cycle, Italy intends to draw the attention to the profound impact Emerging and Disruptive Technologies are expected to have in this area, as much as they represent a real game changer for our societies. If technology runs ahead of legislation, it is nevertheless our duty to fully understand and manage the repercussions of such transformations on our common security.
Synergies with complimentary instruments remain crucial in our assessment. The adoption of the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management represents a further enabler of an integrated approach in through-life arms and ammunition management. Additionally, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Firearms Protocol, which Italy firmly upholds, provide a solid framework for States to control and regulate arms flows, prevent their diversion, and ease the investigation and prosecution of related offences without hampering legitimate transfers.
Mr. Chair,
Our country intends to contribute constructively to relaunching through this Review Conference a renewed commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development for all, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the cohesive spirit of the Pact for the Future. Identifying and implementing action-oriented policies and forward-looking measures to eradicate the threat posed by illicit SALW comprehensively and effectively will be an important contribution to our common endeavor to relaunch efficient multilateralism.
I thank you.
