Within the framework of PGA’s Campaign to Address the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons and, in collaboration with the PGA’s National group in Nepal and generously supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, PGA convened a Regional Asia Parliamentary Round Table Meeting on Addressing the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday, 27th February, 2016. 

The proliferation of illicit trade and trafficking in small arms and light weapons in the Asia Region has led to a growth in transnational organized crime and exacerbated internal conflicts in the region, prompting countries to target a common approach to curbing it. The illicit transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and, in some cases, their accumulation as well as proliferation pose a threat to national and regional security, and can contribute to the destabilization of states. No country or region is immune to the illicit trade and trafficking in small arms and light weapons.

The purpose of this Round Table Meeting was to enable participating Members of Parliament from Nepal, Malaysia, Bhutan and Pakistan to share with their colleagues the current position relating to how their respective countries are addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, to identify potential areas for moving forward on a regional basis.

A Plan of Action, setting out concrete steps to be taken by participants, was adopted following conclusion of the Round Table Meeting.

Also participating were a Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction of Nepal, the Deputy Representative of UNDP to Nepal, Deputy Head of Mission of Embassy of Finland, Ambassador of Australia to Nepal, a Representative from the Embassy of the United States of America to Nepal and civil society representatives.   

Background:

Since the Launch of the PGA Global Parliamentary Campaign for Signature and Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty in April 2013, PGA Members and other Members of Parliament from 76 countries worldwide are now actively promoting signature and/or ratification of the ATT within their Parliaments and in close contact with their respective Governments.

As of March 1, 2016, PGA Members have made important, measurable contributions to moving the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) signature process forward in 44 of the 130 UN Member States that signed the ATT before it entered into force on 24th December, 2015 and similar important and measurable contributions vis-a-vis 34 of the 81 UN Member States that have ratified the ATT to date. 

For more information on this Round Table Meeting in Nepal, and general inquiries on the Campaign, please contact:

Mr. Peter Barcroft (English/Spanish/French)
Director of International Peace and Security Program
Email: peter.barcroft@pgaction.org
Phone: + 1 917 414 0254

Mr. Thiago Carvalo (Portuguese/Spanish/English)
Executive Officer and Program Associate, Peace & Democracy Program
Email: thiago@pgaction.org
Phone: +1 646 762-7315