STATEMENT OF THE G-77 AND CHINA DURING THE WORKING GROUP ON FIREARMS, DELIVERED BY MR. HAYTHAM DIAB, PERMANENT MISSION OF EGYPT ON BEHALF OF H.E. SIMON MADJUMO MARUTA, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NAMIBIA
Vienna, 18 May 2016
Madam Chairperson,
1. On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, allow me to congratulate you on your election as Chairperson for this forth Session of the Working Group on Firearms. Rest assured of our full support for the successful conclusion of this meeting.
2. The Group also commends the Secretariat for the preparations made to support the work of this session.
Madam Chairperson,
3. The Group of 77 and China reaffirms its concerns about the continuing problem and consequences of illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and ammunition, in particular because its complexity and linkage with other forms or organised crimes.
4. The Group underlines the importance of the Working Group in order to advise and to assist in the implementation of the Firearms Protocol and welcomes the decision taken at the Seventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to constitute the Working Group a constant element of the Conference.
5. The Group considers the enhancement of the international cooperation and the provision of technical assistance as an effective tool to prevent and to respond to the new strategies and methods employed by traffickers and their networks.
6. The Group look forward to engage under your able leadership Madam Chairperson in fruitful discussion on how record-keeping, marking and tracing, as well as data collection and analysis and the sharing of information can help reduce illicit trafficking in firearms.
7. In addition to dedicating two agenda items related to methods to improve regional and international cooperation, exchange of information and good practices, through the development or strengthening of experts and competent authorities in firearms control networks, as well as enhancing technical assistance and capacity-building to counter illicit trafficking in firearms in the context of crime prevention and criminal justice.
8. The Group urges Member States to provide the UNODC with sufficient, stable and predictable funding to continue its efforts in the framework of the Global Firearms Programme and developing targeted training programs that meet the needs of Requesting States in this field.
Madam Chairperson,
9. In these coming days, the delegations present here will have an opportunity to share experiences, challenges and good practices on all issues on the agenda within the mandate of this Working Group. The outcome of this meeting will provide fruitful recommendations to the Conference to continue improving the implementation of the Protocol.
10. In this regard, we wish to encourage all delegations to lead constructive and substantive deliberations throughout the course of this session. We look forward to engage in a constructive dialogue with a view to achieving the objectives of this meeting.
11. Finally, we thank you Madam Chairperson and wish you success in your work.
