The United Nations process on small arms: minimal but useful consensus

The Fourth Biennial Meeting of States on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (SALW) took place in New York from 14 to 18 June 2010. Drawing on the 2008 meeting which managed to put the process back on track, the meeting reached a consensus-based outcome document focused on 3 specific topics (plus a miscellaneous point) of the Programme of Action (illicit cross-border trade, international cooperation and assistance, follow-up mechanism). However, this time again, States very little addressed the actual impact of the measures undertaken to combat the illicit traffic of small arms and light weapons. The final document will however be useful to assess the measures and initiatives to be taken by the States in the future.