{{I wish to start by congratulating H.E. Julia BISHOP, for her appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia.
I look forward to working with you. I also thank you, Madam President, for choosing the topic of small arms and light weapons for the High Level Meeting of your presidency.}}
We are all fully aware that it is long overdue, since the last time this threat was considered by the Security Council. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Secretary-General and the Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, for joining us today.
As we contemplate the danger caused by small arms and weapons falling in the wrong hands, let me begin by extending to the people of Kenya my sympathy and solidarity, many of whom just days ago experienced the heinous crime, in great part because of access to those weapons.
As reported by the Secretary General, it is an undisputable fact that excessive accrual and uncontrolled spread of Small Arms and Light Weapons pose a substantial threat to international peace and security, human rights and social development in many countries.
{{Madam President,}}
It is a reality that the African continent, particularly the Great Lakes region, continues to be engulfed by internal armed conflicts, facilitated by weapons that are easily accessible.
We know from experience that small arms and light weapons have neither a small nor light impact on communities devastated by conflict, and we should not be fooled by the adjectives.
It is in recognition of the grave harm caused by the illicit manufacture,transfer and circulation, excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, as well as the importance of regional and sub-regional cooperation, that Rwanda ratified the Nairobi Protocol for the prevention, control and reduction of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa.
Rwanda has also been party to a number of initiatives taken at international, regional and local levels, which have culminated in life-saving commitments.
{{Madam President,}}
Rwanda has established and driven a policy on firearms and ammunitions, which provides for measures to regulate the import, transfer, brokering, marking and licensing of firearms, ammunition and munitions.
Consequently, so far 42,266 arms and 52 tons of unexploded ordinances (UXO) have been destroyed. Reports of the Regional Centre on Small Arms have shown that Rwanda is ahead in the sub-region in the management of stockpiles of arms and ammunition.
Madam President,
We take this opportunity to applaud UN Member States who signed the Arms Trade Treaty, which was adopted by the General Assembly on April 2, 2013.
Rwanda was among the many countries that signed the Treaty when it first opened up for signing here at the United Nations Headquarters.
Rwanda is proud to be associated with this Treaty, which includes small arms in its scope and foils prevailing international and regional instruments for the control and regulation of conventional small arms and light weapons.
We would also like to recognize the efforts of the Regional Centre for Small Arms based in Nairobi (RECSA) and East African Community Small Arms and Light weapons programs as well as other regional organizations in their task to combat the illicit use and transfer of small arms and light weapons.
We remain convinced that such regional efforts will help to ensure cooperation in efforts to address illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of such arms and weapons.
In conclusion, Madam President, Rwanda wishes to call on all members of the Security Council to extend political, financial and technical support and to work closely with regional initiatives in a true spirit of partnership, remembering that we have an obligation and responsibility to avert, combat the destabilizing accumulation and illicit manufacture, trade and circulation of small arms and light weapons.
I thank you.
Source: minaffet
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