2006:05 SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS TRADE
Whereas: there are many wars around the world at any given time, the majority being fought with “small arms and light weapons”; and
Whereas: the prevalence of small arms and light weapons poses a major threat to international peace and security and hinders economic and social development; and
Whereas: Canada has taken a leadership role in drawing the world’s attention to the problem of small arms and light weapons manufacturing, trade and trafficking, but has not ratified the 2001 United Nations Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition; and
Whereas: there is a need for a Global Arms Trade Treaty, to include measures to control arms and light weapons trade, the parameters of which could be developed, discussed and agreed upon at the 2006 United Nations conference on small arms; therefore be it
Resolved: that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that Canada be an international leader in the cessation of small arms and light weapons trade worldwide; and be it further
Resolved: that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to:
a. ratify immediately the 2001 United Nations Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition and expedite its ratification and implementation worldwide;
b. reform Canadian laws so as to require permits or licenses for all military and security exports from Canada to their final destination and ensure monitoring and strict enforcement;
c. work within international forums on small arms to ensure that the assessment of permit and license applications for all countries includes a rigorous analysis of the impact of the arms in question on democracy and human rights;
d. support the development of a Global Arms Trade Treaty that includes measures to control small arms and light weapons, to be discussed and agreed to at the 2006 United Nations conference on small arms.
Resolved: that the National Council of Women of Canada request its Provincial and Local Councils, where appropriate, to ascertain if their provincial governments have ratified the 2001 Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, and urge them to do so immediately if they have not.