Translation of "convention sur les armes légères " (French → English) :

The consequences of the illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of conventional weapons, including small arms and light weapons (hereinafter referred to as ‘SALW’), and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread are central to four of these five challenges.

EUROPA - EU law and publications - EUR-Lex - EUR-Lex - 32013D0698 - EN - Council Decision 2013/698/CFSP of 25 November 2013 in support of a global reporting mechanism on illicit small arms and light weapons and other illicit conventional weapons and ammunition to reduce the risk of their illicit trade // COUNCIL DECISION 2013/698/CFSP // of 25 November 2013

With the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW in All Its Aspects (hereinafter referred to as ‘UN Programme of Action’), adopted on 20 July 2001, all UN Member States have undertaken to prevent illicit trafficking in SALW, or their diversion to unauthorised recipients and, in particular, to take into account the risk of diversion of SALW into the illegal trade when assessing applications for export authorisations.

[Text] Question No. 144 Mr. Garry Breitkreuz: How many person-years have been allocated and what has been the total cost spent by both Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada, for each year since 1994, for the following activities: (a) organizing, operating and participating in the National Committee on Firearms; (b) formulating, implementing and administering the Canadian Plan of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons; (c) developing and implementing the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects; (d) developing and implementing the Protocol ...[+++]against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; (e) developing and implementing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons; (f) developing and implementing the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (Inter-American Convention), signed by Canada in November 1997; (g) developing and implementing the European Union (EU) Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons adopted by the EU States on December 17, 1998; (h) developing and implementing the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports adopted by the EU States; (i) planning and participating in the Small Arms Survey 2001 and 2002; (j) participating in the planning, implementing and administering the Canadian Firearms Program, the Firearms Act and regulations and Part III of the Criminal Code; and (k) processing and issuing import and export permits for firearms and related products?

On that front we have been leaders in small arms conventions, in human rights treaties and, most recently, on the land mines issue.

Do you believe the Draft Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons can be strengthened to have effect in Africa?