UN / SMALL ARMS LIGHT WEAPONS

Following the closing of the Fourth Review Conference on the Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RevCon4) the President-designate of RevCon4, Maritza Chan Valverde, told reporters in New York that states had adopted by consensus “a strong outcome document,” aimed at “promoting peace, security and sustainable development and reducing human suffering and socio economic consequences caused by illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:38
• Production Date: 1 July 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: IZUMI NAKAMITSU
• Corporate Name: UNODA; UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRS
• Subject Topical: DISARMAMENT; AGREEMENTS; SMALL ARMS
• MAMS Id: 3230222
• Parent Id: 3230222
• Alternate Title: unifeed240701c

Description

STORY: UN / SMALL ARMS LIGHT WEAPONS
TRT: 02:38
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 01 JULY 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN Headquarters

01 JULY 2024, NEW YORK CITY

2. Various shots, press room dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Costa Rica:
“I'm very happy to inform that on Friday 28th of June, the states adopted by consensus a strong Outcome Document that comprises 228 paragraphs, which includes a political declaration and action oriented measures for promoting peace, security and sustainable development and reducing human suffering and socio economic consequences caused by illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.”
4. Wide shot, press room dais
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Costa Rica:
“Each day 700 People die due to small arms and light weapons. Most victims and perpetrators are young men. And for women, the rate of violent deaths is increasing, often involving small arms, and up to 90 percent of conflict related sexual violence is committed at the tip of a gun, and in 2022 Small Arms cost the world 21.9 billion dollars.”
6. Wide shot, press room dais
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs:
“The negotiations lasted until the very last minute, but you will achieve, member states achieved to actually adopt something by consensus which contained all these major substantive issues which they have committed to implement for the next six years. That itself I think, is politically a very significant achievement. It was a good example that even though multilateral environment remains difficult, it is possible to have an agreement adopted by consensus to tackle common security issues.”
8. Med shot, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs:
“The Secretariat has a number of mandated tasks. So, we will be very busy. To start with, we have to now, very quickly come up with a concept note. So, that concept note related to potential funding mechanisms or options for funding mechanisms so that member states will be able to implement those commitments at the country level more properly. And that work has to be done immediately before the 79th session of the General Assembly which is just around the corner.”
10. Wide shot, end of presser

Storyline

Following the closing of the Fourth Review Conference on the Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RevCon4) the President-designate of RevCon4, Maritza Chan Valverde, today (1 Jul) told reporters in New York that states had adopted by consensus “a strong outcome document,” aimed at “promoting peace, security and sustainable development and reducing human suffering and socio economic consequences caused by illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.”

Chan Valverde noted that “each day 700 People die due to small arms and light weapons.”

She said, “most victims and perpetrators are young men. And for women, the rate of violent deaths is increasing, often involving small arms, and up to 90 percent of conflict related sexual violence is committed at the tip of a gun, and in 2022 Small Arms cost the world 21.9 billion dollars.”

The Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, for her part said, “member states achieved to actually adopt something by consensus which contained all these major substantive issues which they have committed to implement for the next six years. That itself I think, is politically a very significant achievement.”

Nakamitsu said the Outcome Document “was a good example that even though multilateral environment remains difficult, it is possible to have an agreement adopted by consensus to tackle common security issues.”

She said, “the Secretariat has a number of mandated tasks. So, we will be very busy. To start with, we have to now, very quickly come up with a concept note. So, that concept note related to potential funding mechanisms or options for funding mechanisms so that member states will be able to implement those commitments at the country level more properly. And that work has to be done immediately before the 79th session of the General Assembly which is just around the corner.”

Government representatives met in New York from 18 to 28 June 2024 for the fourth United Nations Conference (RevCon4) to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action on combating illicit small arms and light weapons.

The Review Conference provided a critical once-every-six-years opportunity to collectively address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, which cause devastating impacts on sustainable peace and development around the world.