Remarks by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the seminar "Reviewing Commitments on SALW issues"

 
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
First, I would like to thank all the guest speakers and everyone here for joining today’s seminar on “Reviewing commitments on small arms and light weapons issues.”
 
The misuse of small arms and light weapons is said to take at least, at least, 500,000 lives annually. It deprives the ordinary citizens of freedom from fear and freedom to live in dignity. If we put people at the center of security paradigm, as the concept of human security suggests, this is one of the issues that has to be addressed with priority. That is why Japan decided to convene this event in collaboration with the Stimson Center.
 
Indeed, the timing is right. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Programme of Action (to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects). The Seventh Biennial Meeting of States on the Programme is scheduled for next month. Under the able leadership of Ambassador Kimani of Kenya, this meeting will provide a much-anticipated opportunity to review the achievements by Member States. We will explore measures to tackle a number of longstanding challenges, including the issue of marking and tracking, as well as new challenges posed by technological advances such as 3D printing or modular guns.
 
The Security Council has also taken action in this area. Some of its resolutions have addressed the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons. So-called DDR (disarmament, demobilization and reintegration) activities in post-conflict zones by peacekeepers are also mandated by the Security Council. As Japan prepares itself for joining the Security Council in one and a half years, we thought it useful to organize this seminar and invite the experts and friends who are familiar on this issue to share their views with all of us.
 
Japan is not a newcomer in this field. In the mid-1990s, Japan took the initiative to establish the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Small Arms and Light Weapons that paved the way to the adoption of the Programme of Action in 2001. Also, together with Colombia and South Africa, Japan has been submitting UN General Assembly resolutions on this subject.
 
Japan has also been supporting the efforts on the ground by providing assistance to affected countries to achieve relevant goals in the Programme of Action and the SDGs. In partnership with UNODA, Japan has supported a number of projects for the collection and disposal of small arms and light weapons as well as clearing mines and unexploded ordnance. Japan also contributes to the "Saving Lives Entity" Fund, or SALIENT Fund, launched in 2019 by the Secretary-General following his Agenda for Disarmament.
 
Swift sweeps of remaining arms and weapons after conflicts can save lives and can help prevent recurrence of conflict. That is why Japan will continue to play an active role to address the issue of small arms and light weapons, famously described as the real “weapons of mass destruction”.
 
I look forward to hearing from Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations and Mr. Glenn McDonald, Senior Researcher of Small Arms Survey about the persistent challenges around the globe, as well as their insights on how to overcome them. I sincerely hope that this event provides a good opportunity to renew our commitments to making progress on this serious issue.
 
I thank you.