Forum: 1 st Committee of the General Assembly Issue: The Question of Transparency in Armaments Student Officer: Ms. Maiju Varhe Position: Chair Introduction The use of weapons of all kind and their unregulated trade have a catastrophic human cost. Thousands of people are injured, killed, raped and forced to flee their homes during armed conflict annually. At a local level, insecurity is reinforced with the growth of criminality, whereas at a regional level with the development of arms races. 1 Heavy conventional weapons cause huge damage to infrastructures by destroying housing, industries and roads. These damages affect the society and the common people years after the conflict is over since rebuilding demands financial resources the country in question might not have. Heavy arms also affect future generations by damaging the environment, and increasing dependency on foreign assistance. Moreover, even indigent States spend huge amounts of money on conventional weapons which diverts resources from basic human needs. 2 Illegal arms trade pose a great threat to regional as well as global security. In the hands of insurgents, armed gang members, pirates and terrorists arms can cause great damage to the society and result in the loss of a significant number of lives. 3 Hence governments should ensure that the arms they transfer to others do not, for example, violate embargoes, end up being used for human rights violations, destabilise a region, or affect sustainable development. But in reality, States don't always take these facts into consideration. For instance, according to SIPRI, the Arab Spring had small impact on arms transfers: the USA and Russia remain major arms suppliers for, respectively, Egypt and Syria, regardless of the risk that the weapons sold are being used to commit mass atrocities. Transparency in arms trade is an effective way to prevent these problems. If States behave in a predictable and transparent way, including being open about arms transfers, this could build confidence among them and help prevent conflict. 1 http://www.globalissues.org/issue/73/arms-trade-a-major-cause-of-suffering 2 http://www.ipb.org/web/index.php?mostra=content&menu=weapons%20and%20their%20impacts%2 0on%20communities&submenu=Conventional%20Weapons 3 http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/armed-violence.html Research Report Page 1 of 10
Definition of Key Terms Disarmament As defined in Oxford Dictionaries, disarmament is the reduction or withdrawal of military forces and weapons or, in other words, the act of taking away or giving up weapons (Cambridge Dictionary). Conventional Arms Conventional arms refer to arms that are not weapons of mass destruction. The term to weapons such as armored combat vehicles, combat helicopters, combat aircraft, warships, small arms and light weapons, landmines, cluster munitions, ammunition and artillery. Conventional arms are the main type of arms used in all wars. Look up also UN Register of Conventional Arms. 4 Weapons of mass destruction The term weapons of mass destruction covers all nuclear, biological or chemical weapons able to cause indiscriminate devastation and loss of life on a large scale. 5 The United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) The UN Register of Conventional Arms, established in 1991, is the key international mechanism of official transparency on arms transports. All UN Member states are requested to provide to the register information on exporting and importing state, number of units transferred, and intermediate state or state of origin for all imports and exports of defined conventional arms. In addition, states are encouraged to submit information on their holdings and procurement from domestic production of major conventional weapons, as well as imports and exports of small arms and light weapons. 6 United Nations Report on Military Expenditures UN Report on Military Expenditures allows countries to report what their military budget looks like. If submitted every year, they provide insight on military spending patterns of countries. 7 4 http://www.ipb.org/web/index.php?mostra=content&menu=weapons%20and%20their%20impacts%20on% 20communities&submenu=Conventional%20Weapons 5 https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/weapon_of_mass_destruction 6 https://www.sipri.org/research/armaments-and-disarmament/international-armstransfers/transparency/un-register 7 https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/milex/ Research Report Page 2 of 10
Background With the concept of transparency in armaments is generally understood States being open about their arms imports, exports as well as their domestic weapons production. The importance of transparency in armaments was first addressed by the General Assembly in a resolution in 1987 in the 84th plenary meeting while considering the topic Bilateral nuclear-arms negotiations. It was recognised that transparency and greater openness would help prevent misperceptions of military capabilities and intentions, which could induce states to undertake armaments programmes leading to the acceleration of the arms race. Since then, the aim of promoting greater transparency in international arms transfers has been to discourage arms accumulation, and to serve both as a confidence-building measure and as an early warning mechanism. Many Member States and non--governmental organizations have worked in the past to create and are still continuing their work to improve on transparency in armaments. A significant step was taken in 1991, when the UN Register of Conventional Arms was founded. The Register is an important tool, as it gives practical significance to the concept of transparency in armaments. Governments can voluntarily provide information on their arms sales and purchases, national weapons production, military holdings and, since 2003, on small arms trade. It is estimated that UNROCA has captured over 90% of the global arms trade over the past two decades. Since its inception in 1991, it has received reports from more than 170 States. In 1998, United Nations office for disarmament affairs (UNODA) was established, transparency in armaments being one of its main focuses. Another significant step was taken in 1999 with the Inter--American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions. In the treaty, ratified by most of the American states, Members of of the Organization of American States (OAS) agree to contribute more fully to regional openness and transparency in the acquisition of conventional weapons by exchanging information regarding such acquisitions, for the purpose of promoting confidence among each other. However, world s most significant arms imported, United States of America, has not ratified the treaty. In December 2005, UN International Tracing Instrument was put to use. The instrument enables States to identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons in a timely and reliable manner. The latest action concerning this matter was taken in 2014, when the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which regulates the international trade in conventional arms, entered into force. Research Report Page 3 of 10
Relevant member states and NGOs UN Disarmament organizations/associations United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) Promoting transparency in armaments and military holdings is one of the key factors on the agenda of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). UNODA provides objective, unbiased and up-to-date information on multifaceted disarmament issues and activities to Member States, non-governmental organizations, the media and the general public. 8 United Nations Disarmament Commission United Nations Disarmament Commission feels that confidence and trust among Member States grow through openness in military capacities and plans. It also regards it as an effective way to prevent conflicts and misunderstandings that can lead to armament racing. Promoting transparency in armaments is one of the commission s key aims / priorities. Parties wishing to develop Confidence-building measures (CBMs) can report their national military spending every year to the UN. The UN Report on Military Expenditures and the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) are key tools of the UN Disarmament Commission that provide military information delivered voluntarily by Member States. 9 10 United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) A report released by UNIDIR by the name of Transparency in Armaments: Consideration of the Item in the CD (May, 2011, author: Jerzy Zalenski) states that an increased level of openness and transparency in armaments may enhance trust and confidence among states, help ease tensions and conflicts, promote stability and strengthen regional and international peace and security. 11 12 Largest arms exporters United States of America United States of America (US) is the largest arms exporter in the world and, in addition, has the biggest defence budget, nearly triple the size of the second biggest budget (defence budget of China), measuring $569 bn annually. Most five most important purchasers for the US in 2011-2015 were (listed in order of importance) Saudi Arabia, UEA ( United Arab Emirates), Turkey, South Korea and Australia. 13 8 https://www.un.org/disarmament/about/ 9 https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/register/ 10 https://www.unroca.org/ 11 https://www.unroca.org/ 12 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11936179/what-are-the-biggest-defencebudgets-in-the-world.html 13 http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/24/politics/us-arms-sales-worldwide/ Research Report Page 4 of 10
The best way to ensure the fulfillment of transparency is to systematically report all arms trade, international as well as domestic one. As the most significant party in the field of weapons manufacturing, US has a key role in promoting transparency and forethought in arms trade. Since the inception of the UN Register in 1991, US has provided the register information on its military holdings, domestic production as well as on the imports and exports of heavy weapons. Russian Federation Russian Federation, from this on referred to as Russia, has the world s fourth largest military budget amounting to $53,2 bn (2015), and is the second largest military goods exporter. According to the research of the Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), examining data from years 2011-2015, Russia held a 25 percent share of the global military exports, second only to US (with a 33 percent share). The Russian military industry has sold weapons to 50 14 15 countries, India being its its main client, receiving 39 percent of all Russia s arms transfers. Russia has not provided the UN Register any information on its military holdings nor on its national production. China China was the third largest weapons exporter in 2015. Most of the Chinese weapons are sold to to the Asia-Pacific region: Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, all neighbouring states of India, the leading importer of arms in the region. China s arms sales to other countries soared 88% between the five year periods 2006-2010 and 2011-2015, according to a report published by SIPRI. Furthermore, China is the third largest arms importer. However, it has fallen from its place of the "by far the largest importer" at the start of the century. This is due to its increasing own capability to produce weapons and, thus, China is becoming less dependent on arms imports. 16 China has not provided the UN Register any information on its military holdings nor of its increasing national production. 14 http://worldknowing.com/top-ten-largest-arms-exporting-countries-in-the-world/ 15 https://www.rt.com/business/333223-russia-global-arms-market/ 16 http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/22/news/china-arms-exports-rising/ Research Report Page 5 of 10
Largest arms importers India In 2011-2015, according to a study conducted by SIPRI, India was by far the largest arms importer with a 14 percent share of international arms imports globally. The study also found out that India s arms imports increased 90% as compared against the 2006-2010 timeframe. India is largely reliant on imports due to its slow start at creating its own weapons industry. India hasn t provided the UN Register any information on its military holdings nor of its increasing national production. 17 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is the the second largest arms importer, being responsible for 7 percent of all global imports. Compared to the 2006-2010 timeframe, Saudi Arabia s imports have increased 275 percent in 2011-2015. The country will continue receiving high amount of imports from the West over the following five years. Amnesty International has urged the suspending of Saudi-Arabia from the Human Rights Council due to its unlawful attacks by the military coalition it leads in Yemen. In addition, Amnesty has stated the imported weapons are being used for violating human rights in the military intervention in Yemen. 18 Saudi Arabia has not provided UNROCA any data on its arms exports and imports, military holdings nor on national production. However, there is some information available on the country s imports provided by its trading partners. Countries with unofficial militant organizations obtaining illegal arms Somalia In Somali territory, there are several unauthorized Islamic militant groups fighting against government troops and each other. Furthermore, the disorder in the country threatens stability in the Horn of Africa region, and its continuation threatens international peace and security in the area. Almost one million Somalis have sought refuge in neighbouring countries and elsewhere since the downfall of President Siad Barre in January 1991 and the power struggle and clan clashes resulted by it. 19 17 http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-worlds-largest-arms-importers-2016-2?r=us&ir=t&ir=t 18 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/06/suspend-saudi-arabia-from-un-human-rightscouncil/ 19 http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html Research Report Page 6 of 10
In addition, piracy is a significant concern in the coastal seas of Somalia. With endorsement by the Security Council, a powerful multi-national fleet of warships patrols the seas off the coast of Somalia to protect the shipping lanes from local pirates. 20 There is no information available on Somalia s arms exports and imports, military holdings nor national production provided by the country nor by its possible trading partners. Central African Republic According to the Human Rights Watch, Central African Republic has suffered from brutal violence between Seleka rebels and the anti-balaka militia since the beginning of the civil war in 2012. Thousands of civilians have been killed by both sides, hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, and nearly half-a-million people have taken refuge in neighboring countries. 21 Since the inception of the UN Register in 1991, there are only two pieces of information available on the nation s military possessions, national production and weapons imports and exports. Mali Despite the 2015 peace agreement, which was designed to end the military and political crisis in the north of Mali, violence has spread from the north into several southern regions. The human rights climate in the country is worrying since there has been a significant increase in violence and a remarkable deterioration in security. Mali has not provided UNROCA any military data, apart from one piece piece of information in 2007 on its weapons exports and imports. South Sudan According to UNHCR, the increasing violence in South Sudan has driven thousands of civilians to take refuge in neighbouring countries during the autumn of 2016. This is due to the civil war in the country that began in 2013 when a dispute between president Salva Kiiri and vice president Riek Machar escalated into an ethnic conflict. Despite the signing of a peace treaty between the two parties last year, the armed conflicts have continued. 22 UNROCA has no information on the country's arms exports and imports, military holdings nor national production provided by the country nor by its possible trading partners. 20 https://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-councilagenda/somalia.html 21 https://www.hrw.org/africa/central-african-republic 22 http://maailma.net/artikkelit/tuhannet_paenneet_etelasudanista_paivittain Research Report Page 7 of 10
Timeline 1991: December: inception of the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) 23 1998: January: United Nations office for disarmament affairs (UNODA) was established (originally established in 1982 upon the recommendation of the General Assembly s second special session on disarmament (SSOD II)) 24 1999: June: Inter--American Convention on Transparency 2003: Countries decided that small arms could be added to the UN register of Conventional arms 2005: December: International Tracing Instrument 2014: December: the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) entered into force 25 Relevant UN Legislation/Treaties The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) 24 December 2014 - https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/att/ Convention (IV) relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949. - https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/intro/380 UN Resolutions A/RES/46/36 (1991) on transparency in armaments http://www.un.org/depts/ddar/register/4636.html A/RES/43/75 (1988) on General and complete disarmament A Bilateral nuclear-arms negotiations http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/43/a43r075.htm (hae transparency cmdf) A/RES/42/38 (1987) on General and complete disarmament A Bilateral nuclear-arms negotiations http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/42/a42r038.htm A/RES/41/86 (1986) on Review of the implementation of the recommendations and decisions adopted by the General Assembly at its tenth special session A Bilateral nuclear-arms negotiations http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/41/a41r086.htm A/RES/40/18 (1985) on Bilateral nuclear-arms negotiations http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/40/a40r018.htm More relevant UN resolutions: https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/register/ 23 https://www.unroca.org/about 24 https://www.un.org/disarmament/about/ 25 https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/att/ Research Report Page 8 of 10
Possible Solutions Inviting states not to seek levels of armaments exceeding their legitimate security requirements and thus preventing arms racing as well as securing that unauthorized militant groups are not provided with weapons are key factors in promoting global peace and security. Increasing transparency in armaments is essential in achieving these goals. However, it is highly important to take into account that all the actions must be executed by means that do not set any Member State in an unequal position. Here are some alternative ways how transparency in armaments and its positive effects could be advanced. Call for annual reporting by all UN Member States on imports, exports, holdings of weapons Annual and comprehensive reporting by all Member States to the UN Register of Conventional Arms is of high importance since it provides all parties a truthful view on the state of armament of the country in question. It can help determine if excessive or destabilizing accumulations of arms is taking place. Being open about armaments may also encourage restraint in the production or transfer of arms, especially to unauthorized organizations and countries engaged in illegitimate conflicts. Increase transparency in domestic production of arms Since the weapons industry is being developed in several Member States, many countries have an increasing capability to produce their own weapons. This places increasing importance on providing open data on domestic production of arms for the country s own use. Being open about national production of weapons may thus ease the pressure for arms racing many countries are experiencing especially in Asia and in the South Pacific region. It is also useful to take into account, that If countries without domestic industry dutifully report their imports, it would be fair if countries who produce arms themselves report on their domestic purchases. In that way, all purchases are covered. Increase transparency in small arms/light weapons In modern conflicts, over 80 percent of all casualties have been civilian, and 90 percent of these are caused by small arms. Since 2003, the imports, exports and production of small arms/ light weapons could be added to the Register. Consequently, many Member States have now included small arms in their yearly reports. This is a prominent step, as light weapons are often the ones purchased illegally and used by unauthorized militant groups and organizations in areas of disorganized conflict. Openness in this field of arms sales would put pressure on the parties involved in illegitimate arms sales, and could be an effective way to combat illegal trading of these weapons. Research Report Page 9 of 10
Bibliography - https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/register/ - https://www.un.org/disarmament/cbms/ - https://www.unroca.org - http://www.unidir.org/files/publications/pdfs/transparency-in-armaments-consideration-of-theitem-in-the-cd-375.pdf - http://www.un.org/depts/ddar/register/4636.html - http://www.ipb.org/web/index.php?mostra=content&menu=weapons%20and%20their%20impac ts%20on%20communities&submenu=conventional%20weapons - https://www.sipri.org/research/armaments-and-disarmament/international-armstransfers/transparency/un-register - http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/22/news/china-arms-exports-rising/ - http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-worlds-largest-arms-importers-2016-2?r=us&ir=t&ir=t - https://www.sipri.org/research/armaments-and-disarmament/international-armstransfers/transparency/un-register - https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/intro/380 - http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unosom1backgr2.html - https://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-councilagenda/somalia.html - https://www.hrw.org - https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/06/suspend-saudi-arabia-from-un-human-rightscouncil/ - https://www.rt.com/news/238881-saudi-arabia-arms-import/ - http://www.globalissues.org/issue/73/arms-trade-a-major-cause-of-suffering - http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/armed-violence.html Research Report Page 10 of 10