United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/60/71
Distr.: General
11 January 2006
Sixtieth session
Agenda item 97 (k)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 8 December 2005
[on the report of the First Committee (A/60/463)]
60/71.
Assistance to States for curbing the illicit traffic in small
arms and light weapons and collecting them
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 59/74 of 3 December 2004 on assistance to States for
curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them,
Deeply concerned by the magnitude of human casualty and suffering,
especially among children, caused by the illicit proliferation and use of small arms
and light weapons,
Concerned by the negative impact that the illicit proliferation and use of those
weapons continue to have on the efforts of States in the Sahelo-Saharan subregion in
the areas of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the maintenance of
peace, security and stability,
Taking note of the latest report of the Secretary-General on assistance to States
for curbing illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them and the illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, 1 in which he states, inter alia, that
continued efforts are being made to provide assistance to countries in need of
addressing the proliferation of illicit weapons in their territories,
Welcoming the decision taken by the Economic Community of West African
States to strengthen the moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture
of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, adopted by the Heads of State and
Government of the Economic Community at Abuja on 31 October 1998, 2 by
upgrading it to a legally binding instrument,
Welcoming also, in that regard, the decision of the European Union to
significantly support the initiative of the Economic Community to strengthen the
moratorium,
Welcoming further the decision taken by the Economic Community to establish
a Small Arms Unit and to adopt a new Small Arms Control Programme,
_______________
1
2
05-49186
A/60/161.
See A/53/763-S/1998/1194, annex.