Security Council resolution 2117 (2013) [on small arms]
Symbol: S/RES/2117 (2013)
Date: 2013-09-26
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/68 [193] SMALL ARMS
Subjects: Arms Trade Treaty (2013)|International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (2005)|Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001)|SMALL ARMS|ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING|SANCTIONS COMPLIANCE|STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT|TECHNICAL COOPERATION|ARMS EMBARGO
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: AUSTRALIA
vote: yes
country: AZERBAIJAN
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GUATEMALA
vote: yes
country: LUXEMBOURG
vote: yes
country: MOROCCO
vote: yes
country: PAKISTAN
vote: yes
country: REPUBLIC OF KOREA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: abstention
country: RWANDA
vote: yes
country: TOGO
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                 S/RES/2117 (2013)
               Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                              26 September 2013




               Resolution 2117 (2013)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7036th meeting, on
               26 September 2013

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
               for the maintenance of international peace and security, and noting the significance
               of small arms and light weapons as the most frequently used weapons in the
               majority of recent armed conflicts,
                      Recalling the statements of its President of 19 March 2010 (S/PRST/2010/6),
               of 14 January 2009 (S/PRST/2009/1), of 29 June 2007 (S/PRST/2007/24), of
               17 February 2005 (S/PRST/2005/7), of 19 January 2004 (S/PRST/2004/1), of
               31 October 2002 (S/PRST/2002/30), of 31 August 2001 (S/PRST/2001/21) and of
               24 September 1999 (S/PRST/1999/28), as well as other relevant resolutions of the
               Council, including that of 16 September 1998 (S/RES/1196 (1998)) and statements
               of its President related to small arms and light weapons,
                     Emphasizing that the right of individual and collective self-defence recognized
               in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and the legitimate security
               demands of all countries should be fully taken into account, and recognizing that
               small arms and light weapons are traded, manufactured and retained by States for
               legitimate security, sporting and commercial considerations,
                     Gravely concerned that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons in many regions of the world continue to
               pose threats to international peace and security, cause significant loss of life,
               contribute to instability and insecurity and continue to undermine the effectiveness
               of the Security Council in discharging its primary responsibility for the maintenance
               of international peace and security,
                    Recognizing that threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons may vary according to
               national, regional and subregional circumstances and encouraging responses that
               address prevailing needs and challenges,
                     Recognizing the importance of capacity-building to address threats arising
               from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
               light weapons, especially in Africa, welcoming efforts that have been made by



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               States, international, regional and subregional organizations to tackle this scourge,
               and strongly encouraging support for such efforts,
                     Emphasizing the importance of assisting Member States as well as,
               intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in capacity-building to
               prevent and address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of
               small arms and light weapons,
                     Recalling with concern the close connection between international terrorism,
               transnational organized crime, drugs trafficking, money-laundering, other illicit
               financial transactions, illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons and arms
               trafficking, and the link between the illegal exploitation of natural resources, illicit
               trade in such resources and the proliferation and trafficking of arms as a major
               factor fuelling and exacerbating many conflicts,
                     Expressing concern at the continuing threats posed by the illicit transfer,
               destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to the safety
               and security of United Nations peacekeepers and their effectiveness in implementing
               peacekeeping mandates, and to the safety and security of humanitarian workers and
               their effective provision of humanitarian assistance,
                     Recalling with grave concern that the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel armed conflicts and
               have a wide range of negative human rights, humanitarian, development and
               socioeconomic consequences, in particular on the security of civilians in armed
               conflict, including the disproportionate impact on violence perpetrated against
               women and girls, and exacerbating sexual and gender-based violence and the
               recruitment and use of children by parties to armed conflict in violation of
               applicable international law,
                    Noting that this resolution focuses on the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, including in respect of
               Council-mandated arms embargoes,
                     Acknowledging the important contribution of Council-mandated arms
               embargoes in countering the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons,
               mitigating the intensity of conflict and creating conditions conducive to the peaceful
               resolution of situations that threaten or breach international peace and security, and
               acknowledging also the contribution Council-mandated arms embargoes make in
               supporting conflict prevention, post-conflict peacebuilding, disarmament,
               demobilization and reintegration and security sector reform,
                     Recognizing the value of effective physical security and management of
               stockpiles of small arms, light weapons and ammunition as an important means to
               prevent the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
               light weapons, in accordance with global and regional standards, including through
               the application of voluntary guidelines, such as the International Ammunition
               Technical Guidelines (IATG) developed under the UN SaferGuard programme, and
               the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) in arms and ammunition
               stockpile management practices,
                    Emphasizing the importance of addressing the illicit transfer, destabilizing
               accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in conflict prevention and
               post-conflict peacebuilding, and in this context, stressing the importance of



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           comprehensive international, regional and national approaches to disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration that integrates political, social, economic,
           development and security aspects, and provides for the special needs of children and
           women, and women’s full and effective participation in all efforts for the
           maintenance and promotion of peace and security, in line with UNSCR 1325
           (S/RES/1325 (2000)),
                 Underlining the responsibility of States to prevent threats posed by the illicit
           transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to
           international peace and security, and the devastating impact on civilians in armed
           conflict,
                Recognizing that the misuse of small arms and light weapons has resulted in
           grave crimes and reaffirming therefore the relevant provisions of the 2005 World
           Summit Outcome Document regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflict,
           including paragraphs 138 and 139 thereof regarding the responsibility to protect
           populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
           humanity,
                 Noting with appreciation the efforts made by Member States,
           intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations in addressing threats to
           international peace and security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing
           accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and noting the
           significant role of civil society in supporting such efforts,
                Underlining in this regard the importance of cooperation, coordination and
           information-sharing among actors in addressing threats to international peace and
           security posed by the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small
           arms and light weapons,
                Recognizing the significance and central role of the United Nations
           Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocols, including the
           Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts
           and Components and Ammunition; the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat
           and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects;
           and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely
           and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, as crucial instruments
           in countering the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small
           arms and light weapons,
                 Acknowledging the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty, taking note of the
           signature and ratification of the Treaty by some States, and looking forward to the
           important contribution it can make to international and regional peace, security and
           stability, reducing human suffering and promoting cooperation,
                 Welcoming the increased cooperation between the United Nations and
           INTERPOL, including the 2009 Supplementary Agreement between INTERPOL and
           the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, as well as individual
           agreements between INTERPOL and Council Sanctions Committees, which provide
           better optional tools including, those for weapons identification and information
           sharing, for the United Nations and Member States to implement Council-mandated
           arms embargoes more effectively,




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                     Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report to the Council of 22 August 2013
               entitled “Small Arms” (S/2013/503),
                     Being determined to continue to take practical steps to prevent the illicit
               transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons,
               including in support of other ongoing efforts and processes,
                     1.   Welcomes efforts made by Member States, regional and subregional
               organizations in addressing the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons, and encourages the establishment or
               strengthening, where appropriate, of subregional and regional cooperation,
               coordination and information sharing mechanisms, in particular, transborder
               customs cooperation and networks for information-sharing, with a view to
               preventing, combating, and eradicating illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation
               and misuse of small arms and light weapons;
                     2.   Reminds Member States of their obligation to fully and effectively
               comply with Council-mandated arms embargoes and to take appropriate measures,
               including all legal and administrative means against any activity that violates such
               arms embargoes, and including, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions,
               through cooperating with all relevant United Nations entities; by making available
               to relevant sanctions committees all pertinent information on any alleged violations
               of arms embargoes; by acting on credible information to prevent the supply, sale,
               transfer or export of small arms and light weapons in contravention of Councilmandated arms embargoes; by facilitating unhindered access by relevant Councilmandated personnel in accordance with Council mandates; and by applying relevant
               international standards such as the International Tracing Instrument;
                     3.   Calls on Member States subject to Council-mandated arms embargoes to
               implement and enforce the embargo, including by, as mandated, avoiding diversion
               of state owned or controlled weapons by enhancing small arms and light weapon
               stockpile security, accountability and management; improving the monitoring of
               small arms and light weapons that are supplied in accordance with exemptions to
               arms embargoes; and ensuring that seized, confiscated or surrendered small arms,
               light weapons and ammunition are recorded and disposed of in an appropriate
               manner, and by implementing national weapons marking programmes in accordance
               with the International Tracing Instrument;
                    4.    Reiterates that United Nations peacekeeping operations and other
               relevant Council-mandated entities, located in a Member State or region with a
               Council-mandated arms embargo, may, if deemed necessary by the Council, assist
               with appropriate expertise the host government, relevant sanctions committee and
               relevant experts group, with the implementation and compliance monitoring of that
               arms embargo;
                     5.   Reiterates that such peacekeeping operations and relevant Councilmandated entities may, if deemed necessary by the Council, assist in capacitybuilding for host governments, as requested, to implement commitments under
               existing global and regional instruments and to address the illicit trafficking of small
               arms and light weapons, including inter alia through weapons collection,
               disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programmes, enhancing physical
               security and stockpile management practices, record keeping and tracing capacities,




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           development of national export and import control systems, enhancement of border
           security, and strengthening judicial institutions and law enforcement capacity;
                 6.   Reaffirms its responsibility to monitor the implementation of Councilmandated arms embargoes and reaffirms its intention to take appropriate measures,
           when needed, to strengthen arms embargo monitoring mechanisms including inter
           alia through assigning dedicated staff or monitoring units to relevant United Nations
           Missions to effectively monitor arms embargoes;
                  7.   Encourages information-sharing between groups of experts,
           peacekeeping missions within their mandates and other relevant United Nations
           entities on possible arms embargo violations, including on illicit arms transfers,
           illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, illicit financial activities,
           suspected traffickers and trafficking routes;
                8.   Requests the Secretary-General to direct that any relevant United Nations
           agencies operating in a State or region in relation to which the Council maintains an
           arms embargo provide the utmost assistance to the work of relevant sanctions
           committees, experts groups, peacekeeping operations and other relevant United
           Nations entities in the implementation and compliance monitoring of that arms
           embargo;
                9.    Reaffirms its decision that States shall eliminate the supply of weapons,
           including small arms and light weapons, to terrorists, as well as its calls for States to
           find ways of intensifying and accelerating the exchange of operational information
           regarding traffic in arms, and to enhance coordination of efforts on national,
           subregional, regional and international levels;
                  10. Urges      Member      States,  relevant   United     Nations     entities,
           intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations, in a position to do so and
           where appropriate, to cooperate and share information on suspected traffickers and
           trafficking routes, suspect financial transactions and brokering activities for, or
           diversions of, small arms or light weapons, and other information relevant to the
           illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and light
           weapons, with potentially affected States and with relevant United Nations entities,
           including experts groups assisting sanctions committees and peacekeeping
           operations;
                11. Calls for Member States to support weapons collection, disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, as well as physical security and
           stockpile management programmes by United Nations peacekeeping operations
           where so mandated;
                 12. Urges Member States, United Nations entities, intergovernmental,
           regional and subregional organizations, to take further measures to facilitate
           women’s full and meaningful participation in all policymaking, planning and
           implementation processes to combat and eradicate the illicit transfer, destabilizing
           accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and calls
           upon, in this regard, all those involved in the planning for disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration and justice and security sector reform efforts to
           take into account the particular needs of women and children associated with armed
           forces and armed groups, with the participation of women, and to provide for their
           full access to these programmes inter alia, through consultation with civil society,
           including women’s organizations, as appropriate;


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                     13. Bearing in mind that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and
               misuse of small arms and light weapons fuel conflict and impact on the protection of
               civilians, reiterates its demand that all parties to armed conflict comply strictly with
               the obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian, human rights
               law and refugee law, and stresses the need for parties to take all required measures
               to avoid civilian casualties, respect and protect the civilian population;
                     14. Calls on parties to armed conflict, in this regard, to comply with
               obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect humanitarian
               personnel, facilities and relief consignments, and to take measures to eradicate the
               negative impact of the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of
               small arms and light weapons on humanitarian actors, and take all required steps to
               facilitate the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of relief consignments, equipment
               and personnel;
                      15. Encourages Member States and intergovernmental, regional and
               subregional organizations in a position to do so to render assistance upon request in
               securing government stockpiles of small arms and light weapons, particularly
               through training in physical security and stockpile management and disposition of
               illicit or poorly secured small arms and light weapons in an appropriate manner in
               light of the important role that international assistance can play in supporting and
               facilitating efforts at the local, national, regional and global levels to prevent and
               address the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation or misuse of small arms and
               light weapons;
                     16. Encourages the Secretary-General and Heads of intergovernmental,
               regional and subregional organizations to continue their efforts to strengthen their
               cooperation in addressing small arms and light weapons-related threats to
               international peace and security;
                     17. Encourages all Member States that have not yet done so to accede to and
               implement the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
               and its Protocols, including the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and
               Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunitions;
                     18. Stresses the need for full and effective implementation by States at the
               national, regional and international levels, of the United Nations Programme of
               Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
               Weapons in All Its Aspects and the International Instrument to Enable States to
               Identify and Trace, in a Timely Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, in
               particular, paying special attention to applying measures contained therein on the
               prevention of the diversion of small arms and light weapons, in order to make real
               progress in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and
               light weapons;
                     19. Urges States to consider signing and ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty as
               soon as possible and encourages States, intergovernmental, regional and subregional
               organizations that are in a position to do so to render assistance in capacity-building
               to enable States Parties to fulfil and implement the Treaty’s obligations;
                    20. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to submit to the Council on a
               biennial basis a report on small arms and light weapons, including on the
               implementation of this resolution, and affirms its intention to consider the report in
               a timely manner;
                    21.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.


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