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UAE is committed to enforce UNPoA |
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The UAE is enforcing international standards on combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and is committed to strengthen mechanisms for cooperation and coordination for enforcing the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all aspects (UNPoA) , a senior UAE official affirmed. ’’This issue is lent a top priority in the security and legislative strategy in the UAE,’’ Lt. Colonel Isa Al Shamsi, Director of Arms and Explosives, Ministry of Interior, told the fourth meeting of Arab liaison contacts connection with the UN Programme. He said the UAE has updated its legislations to conform with benchmarks set by the Programme, citing the federal law no 3 of 2009 regarding arms, ammunition, and explosives which took effect on 15 June 2009. To ensure that small arms and light weapons will be kept out of the wrong hands, the UN member sates unanimously adopted in 2001 a Programme of Action to combat the illicit trade in those weapons. The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA) focuses on practical solutions, such as collecting and destroying illegal weapons, strengthening import and export controls, raising awareness on the effects of illegal weapons, improving the security and safety of weapons storage facilities and helping affected countries track down illegal transfers of small arms and the brokers involved. The Programme of Action has taken on a steady momentum: since 2001, more than 50 countries have reinforced their laws against the illegal small weapons. Small arms" include hand guns, pistols, rifles, sub-machine guns, mortars, grenades and light missiles. "Light weapons" include heavy machine-guns, mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, and portable launchers of anti-tank missile. |
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