The illicit manufacture, transfer and circulation of small arms and light weapons and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world, have a wide range of adverse humanitarian and socio-economic consequences and pose a serious threat to peace, reconciliation, safety, security, stability and sustainable development at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels.

Non-Aligned Movement, with disarmament as one of its primary objectives, has taken note of the security threats posed by the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread in many regions of the world. The Movement had also extended its full co-operation to the relevant international treaties and conventions to prevent the same. In this context, the Non-Aligned Movement has stressed on the significance of the Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.

Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects calls for the national governments to bear the primary responsibility for preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and intensifying efforts to define the problems associated with such trade and find ways of resolving them. It also stresses the need for international cooperation and assistance, including financial and technical assistance, as appropriate, to support and facilitate efforts at the local, national, regional and global levels to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspect.

Non-Aligned Movement has reaffirmed the total validity of the Programme of Action and emphasized the importance of its prompt and full implementation and stressed that international assistance and cooperation is an essential aspect for its implementation. In March 2018, a Working paper submitted by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement to the Preparatory Committee for the Third United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspect underlined the need for balanced, effective and full implementation of the PoA, which NAM reiterates is the only universal framework to address challenges of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

In the working paper, NAM stresses that international assistance and cooperation is essential for the full and effective implementation of the Programme of Action, which is particularly important for developing countries. Thus, NAM encourages all initiatives by States to mobilize resources and expertise as well as to provide assistance to strengthen the full implementation of the PoA. Accordingly, NAM also underlined the importance of rendering actual and continued unconditional and non-discriminatory assistance to developing countries, upon their request, to promote their capacity to fully and effectively implement the provisions of the Programme of Action.

In the Working Paper regarding the implementation of PoA, NAM has proposed a set of recommendations. The major recommendations include establishing a Fellowship Programme on Small Arm s and Light Weapons for developing countries, to train, at least 60 persons annually in areas related to the implementation of the PoA, enhancing regional and international cooperation, establishment of a United Nations trust fund for the mobilization of reliable assistance to developing countries in support of the implementation of the PoA, collaboration with relevant research and training institutions from developing countries on activities regarding SALW, making concrete decisions on issues related to transfer of technology and equipment, as well as capacity building, in particular, training within the full and effective implementation of the Programme of Action. In addition to this, NAM also reiterates that all activities in support of the implementation of the PoA, including should strictly conform to the agreed outcomes of the PoA Review Conferences and Biennial Meetings of States, and that voluntary funding implementation of these agreed priorities. In addition, NAM also recommends that activities in the field of international cooperation and assistance in support of the implementation of the PoA should take into account the national priorities of recipient States.