Small Arms and Security by Denise Garcia

Author:Denise Garcia [Garcia, Denise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, General, Political Science, International Relations, Peace
ISBN: 9781135986803
Google: NmY9xpB_pQ4C
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2006-09-27T15:52:34+00:00

In addition, in article 8, for the purposes of identifying and tracing each firearm, states parties are committed at the time of manufacture of each firearm to require unique marking providing the name of the manufacturer, the country or place of manufacture and the serial number. In addition there is a commitment to requiring appropriate simple marking on each imported firearm, permitting identification of the country of import and, where possible, the year of import, to enable authorities to trace the firearm, and a unique marking, if the firearm does not bear such a marking.

In the same year, 2001, UN 2001 issued the Program of Action containing four specific paragraphs dedicated to marking and tracing in its final version. The countries that actively proposed clauses were Argentina, the EU, Norway, the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Canada, India, Indonesia and China.

The marking and tracing norm’s essence, i.e. marking as an integral part of the weapons-manufacturing process, is reflected in the Program of Action’s final version, with the commitment

to ensure that henceforth licensed manufacturers apply an appropriate and reliable marking on each small arm and light weapon as an integral part of the production process. This marking should be unique and should identify the country of manufacture and also provide information that enables the national authorities of that country to identify the manufacturer and serial number so that the authorities concerned can identify and trace each weapon.42

This paragraph achieved its final tone after the proposals of Argentina, the United States, the EU, Norway and especially Canada, which advocated the marking of small arms as critical both to effective control of their movement and to successfully identifying and tracing where small arms are used in, or are the subject of, crime.

Canada advocated for a more robust marking regime that would require manufacturers to apply a unique marking consisting of three elements: country of manufacture, name of manufacturer and a serial number. In addition, Canada proposed to add a new paragraph to further promote efficient tracing, as follows:

To promote the efficient tracing of small arms and light weapons by ensuring that appropriate markings are applied to firearms on import, permitting the identification of the country of import and a serial number if the firearm does not bear one.43

Along with Canada, the EU advocated for a slightly stronger normative tone that was not included, i.e. “permanent, reliable and universally recognized marking.”44

The Program of Action also succeeded in advancing the norm on marking and tracing along the lines of what most advocates wanted by prescribing the adoption of measures to prevent the manufacture, stockpiling, transfer and possession of any unmarked or inadequately marked small arms and light weapons. This clause was advocated by the EU, the Philippines and the United States. Regarding the establishment of record-keeping measures, both GRIP and the manufacturers wanted the indefinite retention of the records. Nonetheless, the Program of Action includes only a weaker provision to ensure that comprehensive and accurate records are kept by states for as long as possible on the manufacture, holding and transfer of small arms and light weapons under their jurisdiction.

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