ARF Workshop on Stockpile Management Security Man-Portable Air Defense System and Small Arms & Light Weapons Session I : Perspectives & Impacts of Illicit Proliferation of SALW and Unauthorized Use of MANPADS 12 October 2006, Bangkok, Thailand

The UN Programme of Action on SALW The Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) is a politically binding international instrument that aims to curb the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons. It was adopted unanimously by UN Member States at the July 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW The UN PoA seeks to develop and strengthen agreed norms and measures with a view to promoting concerted and coordinated international efforts to curb the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. It also intends to develop and implement agreed international measures to curb illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in those weapons, to mobilize political will throughout the international community and to encourage cooperation to such ends.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW In addition, the UN PoA aims to raise awareness about SALW issues and to promote responsible actions by States to help prevent the illicit manufacture, export, import and transfer of such weapons.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW The UN PoA contains a wide range of political undertakings and concrete actions that Member States committed themselves to at the national, regional and global levels. They include, for example, developing, adopting and strengthening SALW national legislation, SALW transfer controls, destruction of weapons that are confiscated, seized, or collected, as well as fostering international cooperation and assistance with a view to strengthening the ability of States to identify and trace illicit arms and light weapons.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW Since its adoption, the UN PoA has stimulated a wide range of initiatives at the national, regional and global levels, such as: More than 50 countries have strengthened their national legislation to control the illegal trade in small arms, including Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Mauritius, Nicaragua, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Similar reforms are under way in many other countries.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW UN peacekeeping operations have developed and implemented disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes in post-conflict situations, especially in Africa, helping thousands of former combatants (including women and children) disarm and return to civilian life in countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone. UN Country Teams have also carried out DDR programmes in Cambodia, Central African Republic and Guinea Bissau.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW The UN General Assembly adopted in December 2005 the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons. This new instrument will help law enforcement officials identify sources of illegal weapons. In a recent report, Secretary-General Kofi Annan called this the most significant UN achievement in 2005 in fighting the illicit trade in small arms.

The UN Programme of Action on SALW The UN Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition came into force in July 2005 as the first legally binding global instrument on small arms which aims at strengthening cooperation among States to combat illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms. The Firearms Protocol supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and is expected to become a useful tool for law enforcement in the countries that ratified it.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW National Level In accordance with the UN PoA, the National Security Council (NSC) was designated as a National Point of Contact to act as coordinator on matters relating to SALW. NSC has developed the Border Strategy which covers the problem of SALW smuggling. The Strategy will help strengthen the capability of people and community along the borders, and raise awareness of security issue as well as enhance co-operation with neighboring countries at the border areas.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW Moreover, the Subcommittee on the Prevention and Handling of Problems concerning SALW was established in 2005 to oversee this matter in a more integral and comprehensive fashion. Thailand has put in place adequate laws, regulations and administrative procedures to exercise effective control over trade of SALW to prevent the illicit activities and diversion of the weapons to unauthorized recipients that might occur during the process and to ensure that tight controls are applied to all illicit activities.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW The legal framework for exercising controls over small arms and light weapons comprises the following laws and regulations: - Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive Articles and Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms Act, B.E. 2490 (1947); - Act on Export Control of Armaments and Material, B.E. 2530 (1987); - Munitions of War Control Act, B.E. 2530 (1987); - Decree on the Export Control of Armaments and Material, B.E. 2535 (1992) - Customs Act, B.E. 2469 (1926); - Order of the National Administrator Reform Committee No.37 (October 1976); - Ministerial Regulation No.12 (1981), issued under the Firearms, Ammunitions, Explosives, Fireworks and Firearm Equivalents Act 1947;

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW - Ministerial Regulation No.1 (1977), issued under the Order of the National Administrative Reform Committee No. 37; - Ministerial Regulation No.2 (1977), issued under the Order of the National Administrative Reform Committee No. 37; - Ministerial Regulation No.3 (1977), issued under the Order of the National Administrative Reform Committee No. 37; - Ministerial Regulation No.4 (1977), issued under the Order of the National Administrative Reform Committee No. 37; - Act Controlling Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms No.4 (1967); - Notification of the Ministry of Interior. Appointment of Registrars, Officers and Officials under the Firearms, Ammunitions, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms Act 1947; - Royal Decree in Control of Export of Arms, Ammunition and War Materials 1953.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW National legislation and other measures properly cover the management and security of the small arms and light weapons stockpile. The armed forces and national police maintain strict accountability processes for their weapons. Stocks of the arms held by armed forces, police and other authorities are reviewed yearly. In addition, the Ministry of Defense is now developing an intra-agency online system to standardize the stockpile management online system all over the country.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW In order to prevent small arms smuggling, Thailand has adopted several measures on export control, such as a new watch list of dual use goods and measures under ISPS Code. Bangkok/Laem Chabang Efficient and Secure Trade (BEST) was set up in order to implement the Container Security Initiative (CSI).

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW Regional Level Thailand actively supports ASEAN framework in combating transnational crime, called ASEAN Ministerial/Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC/SOMTC), in which arms smuggling is one of the key issues of co-operation. In addition, Thailand and the neighboring countries such as Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Malaysia have worked together to prevent arms trafficking along the borders.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW The Royal Thai Police is in constant communication with neighboring countries to prevent the increase in transnational crime.

Thailand and the UN PoA on SALW Global Level Thailand was the host country to the United Nations Workshop on SALW for South Asia and Southeast Asia entitled "Towards the Review Conference on the Implementation of the Programme of Action" organized by the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific held in Bangkok. As a result of the Workshop two working group reports were adopted by the Working Group for Southeast Asian States and the Working group for South Asian States respectively. The reports have also been introduced in the Review Conference as Official Document .