Yesterday at a Security Council meeting the issue of weapons trafficking (smuggling of weapons or ammunition) was raised. UN Officials are worried that it is threatening peacekeeping processes in Central Africa. Selling of small arms and light weapons have become a popular black market structure in Central Africa and it is valued at around 300,000,000 dollars annually!
I think arms trafficking fuels wars and in the hands of terrorists these light weapons have the power to kill hundreds of innocent and vulnerable people! It violates international law and puts many people at risk.
What are you thoughts on arms trafficking and what other issues arise from it? What would you recommend in terms of limiting the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons?
4 comments:
Trafficking of weapons is a BIG issue and I don't believe it is a problem governments can solve. It is a problem that needs to be managed, by enacting strong export and border controls and addressing the root causes of the civil conflict and increasing urban crime rates, governments can reduce the supply of, and demand for, these weapons. And this is a way the government can effectively manage this situation, which is so harmful to international law.
Anna Devenport: University of Reading, International Relations & Economics Student
I agree with Sweeba and Anna. Weapons being sold on the black market fuels terrorism, child soldiers, rebel groups and often goes hand in hand with drug trafficking and extremist activities that are detrimental to society. Trying to combat this issue is difficult, and any effort should be embraced by international institutions and governments. Stricter border controls is a good place to start, or trying to source factories where these weapons are illegally made. Attempting to solve issues at grass roots levels is optimistic, yet in reality will prove extremely difficult.
Alexander Atkins, International Relations Student at the University of St. Andrews
THis is an issue that can only be dealt with by tough border controls and export/import license enforcement- which are notoriously open to bribery, corruption and a willingness to "turn a blind eye". The problem will be endemic as long as a culture of corruption is permitted inside countries, with governments that don't pay their police, armed forces or customs officials enough to live on- thereby forcing them to accept bribery as a form of income. Not a simple probkem, alas.
Whether sanctioned by businesses and governments or done illegally on the black market, the trading of weapons to various parties’ helps fuel armed conflicts all over the world. While arms trading has helped just causes in many wars, it has also extended violence and suffering in conflict-ridden nations and provided both a means and a source of income for terrorist organizations.
And as for stricter border controls that couple of you have mentioned these are already in place but due to the corrupt political and security system these don't work as effectively.
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