A/RES/56/24 P C ONSOLIDATION OF PEACE THROUGH PRACTICAL DISARMAMENT MEASURES The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 51/45 N of 10 December 1996, 52/38 G of 9 December 1997, 53/77 M of 4 December 1998, 54/54 H of 1 December 1999 and 55/33 G of 20 November 2000, Convinced that a comprehensive and integrated approach towards certain practical disarmament measures often is a prerequisite to maintaining and consolidating peace and security and thus provides a basis for effective post-conflict peace-building, namely the rehabilitation and social and economic development in areas that have suffered from conflict; such measures are, inter alia, collection and responsible disposal, preferably through destruction, of weapons obtained through illicit trafficking or illicit manufacture as well as of weapons and ammunition declared by competent national authorities to be surplus to requirements, particularly with regard to small arms and light weapons, unless another form of disposition or use has been officially authorized and provided that such weapons have been duly marked and registered; confidence-building measures; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; demining; and conversion, Noting with satisfaction that the international community is more than ever aware of the importance of such practical disarmament measures, especially with regard to the growing problems arising from the excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons, which pose a threat to peace and security and reduce the prospects for economic development in many regions, particularly in post-conflict situations, Stressing that further efforts are needed in order to develop and effectively implement programmes of practical disarmament in affected areas so as to complement, on a case-by-case basis, peacekeeping and peace-building efforts, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, 48 and in particular the recommendations contained therein, as an important contribution to the consolidation of the peace process through practical disarmament measures, Taking into account the deliberations at the 2001 substantive session of the Disarmament Commission in Working Group II on agenda item 5, entitled “Practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms”, 49 and encouraging the Disarmament Commission to continue its efforts aimed at the identification of such measures, Welcoming the Programme of Action adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, 50 which should be implemented expeditiously, 1. Stresses, in the context of the present resolution, the particular relevance of the “Guidelines on conventional arms control/limitation and disarmament, with _______________ 48 A/54/258. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 42 (A/56/42). 50 See Report of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, New York, 9-20 July 2001 (A/CONF.192/15), para. 24. 49 24