Illicit trafficking in small arms remains a deadly challenge for international peace and security. Across the world, violence carried out with small arms and light weapons undermines our efforts to promote sustainable development, protect human rights, build safer cities, improve public health, and help countries emerge from conflict. The casualties include children, the stability of entire societies, and public confidence in institutions. The opportunity costs—people whose lives have been cut short; countries made fragile and unattractive for investment—are equally profound.
The publication of this edition of the Small Arms Survey is timely. This year, the United Nations will convene the Second Review Conference of the decade-old UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, giving Member States an opportunity to review progress and ensure that this framework continues to guide international action.
Like previous editions, the Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets provides original research and analysis that can improve policy-making. It can also contribute to the development of measurable goals for small arms control—an objective I articulated most recently in my 2011 report on small arms to the UN Security Council.
I commend the Small Arms Survey 2012 as an authoritative volume to Member States and all stakeholders committed to reducing the devastating toll that small arms inflict on individuals, communities, and entire countries and regions. Let us work together to solve the big problems caused by small arms.
