Facebook Facebook

News From Mission News From Mission

Back

STATEMENT : GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS FOURTH UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE

STATEMENT BY

MR. SOFIAN AKMAL ABD. KARIM

DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE/

CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES a.i.

PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS

AT THE GENERAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

FOURTH UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE TO REVIEW PROGRESS MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

IN ALL ITS ASPECTS

NEW YORK, 18 JUNE 2024

______________________________________________________________________

Madam President,

At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on your election as President of this Review Conference. As we assess progress made in the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), rest assured of Malaysia’s full support.

My delegation associates itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Madam President,

Full and effective implementation of the UN PoA and the ITI remains essential in curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report of 1 May 2024, the illicit trade in, and misuse of, small arms and light weapons pose a persistent threat to peace, security and sustainable development, with clear links to armed conflict, organised crime and armed violence. Our work in this area necessitates a holistic approach to arms control and disarmament, post-conflict peacebuilding, conflict prevention and socio-economic development.

Malaysia calls on all States, in particular major arms-producing States, to ensure that the supply of small arms and light weapons is limited to governments or to entities duly authorised by governments. Further, as recognised in the PoA, national laws, regulations and administrative procedures play a key role in preventing the illegal manufacture of and trafficking in small arms and light weapons, as well as their diversion to unauthorised recipients.

Malaysia has stringent legislation and related measures in place for effective control over the production of small arms and light weapons, and the export, import, transit and re-transfer of such weapons. These are reflected in our national report on the implementation of the PoA and the ITI for the year 2024.

Madam President,

International cooperation and assistance, including the provision of technical assistance and knowledge sharing, are critical in realising the objectives of the PoA and the ITI. This is relevant to improving traceability, collection and disposal of arms, and management of surplus stockpiles, as well as mechanisms dealing with brokering, especially in the developing world.

Malaysia welcomes the establishment of the standing fellowship training programme on small arms and light weapons for government officials directly responsible for the implementation of the PoA and the ITI, particularly in developing countries, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 77/71. Prioritising the operationalisation of this programme will deepen the technical knowledge and expertise of relevant officials, and thereby support States’ fulfilment of agreed commitments in this field.

At the regional level, Malaysia is working with fellow ASEAN Member States on the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Combatting Arms Smuggling, adopted by the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime in August 2023. The Declaration recognises that cooperation in the development of strict and effective measures against arms smuggling will contribute to efforts in combatting transnational crime, including the implementation of the UN PoA.

Malaysia has also collaborated with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) on capacity-building initiatives relating to marking, record-keeping and tracing.

Madam President,

It is important for us to advance discussions on the impact of new technologies in the design and production of small arms and light weapons, including challenges vis-à-vis marking and tracing resulting from 3D-printed weapons as well as modular and polymer weapons. The potential opportunities that new technologies present in terms of combatting the illicit diversion of small arms and light weapons should also be duly considered.

Multilateral discourse on small arms and light weapons should continue to feature active engagement with non-governmental stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. This will ensure that States keep abreast of relevant developments, and promote greater public awareness of the harms inflicted by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.