Disarmament in Review
Technological advancements are impacting the design, manufacturing, marking, and tracing of small arms and light weapons. To address both the challenges and opportunities that these developments present, States agreed to establish an Open-ended Technical Expert Group dedicated to this issue. This decision, taken at the Fourth Review Conference (RevCon4) of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and its International Tracing Instrument in June of this year, reflects a commitment to adjust to an evolving arms control landscape. The expert group will convene in 2026 and 2028 to develop agreed recommendations.
Operationalizing the open-ended Technical Expert Group
To keep up the momentum and discuss the next steps for operationalizing the Open-Ended Technical Expert Group, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) co-hosted a side event with Conflict Armament Research, Costa Rica, the Philippines and South Africa on 22 October. The event took place on the margins of the 79th session of the General Assembly First Committee at the United Nations in New York.
The Chair of the First Committee, who was also the President of the fourth Review Conference on the Programme of Action, Ambassador Maritza Chan-Valverde of Costa Rica, opened the event. She outlined the decade-long road of persistent efforts -from the initial acknowledgment by States in 2011 of the challenges that new technologies present to identification and marking – to reach the pivotal establishment of the Open-Ended Technical Expert Group in 2024. “This could bolster security and improve the overall implementation of the PoA and ITI”, she added.
Ambassador Chan called on UN Member States to start nominating and preparing experts to be part of the Group, emphasizing the importance of ensuring geographically diverse and gender-balanced delegations. She also called on the UN entities, civil society organizations, and industry to actively engage in the discussions and provide substantive input to the preparatory phase of the Group.
The issue of illicit small arms and light weapons is evolving
Ms. Diane Shayne Lipana of the Philippines was the lead facilitator of negotiations on the formation of the Open-Ended Technical Expert Group at the Fourth Review Conference. During the event she highlighted its unique structure designed to promote international cooperation and address technological developments continuously as they emerge. She stressed the importance of ensuring continuity across meetings and the early appointment of a Chair. Participation will be open to all Member States and briefings from experts in the private sector, industry, civil society, and academia are encouraged.
Mr. Yaseen Lagardien of South Africa represented the co-penholders of the General Assembly resolution on illicit small arms and light weapons which was first adopted in 2017 (A/RES/72/57). He emphasized the informal nature of the new Group which, he said, allowed for flexibility while also noting that outcomes would be consensus-based. He also indicated that attention should paid to international cooperation and assistance to prevent capability gaps between States including, for example, through the forthcoming funding mechanism for implementation of the Programme of Action.
Technical experts can leverage opportunities of emerging technologies for arms control
The Open-Ended Technical Expert Group should address highly technical aspects of the Programme of Action, noted Mr. Himayu Shiotani, Director of Policy and Research at Conflict Armament Research and an advisor to the President of the Fourth Review Conference. At the event, he presented the work of Conflict Armament Research, an organization that supports States in tracing illicit small arms and light weapons through technology for improved marking, traceability and forensic capabilities. Mr. Shiotani discussed the challenges posed by developments in small arms manufacturing, including polymer material and modular weapons. In addition to working with civil society, the new technical expert group should collaborate with industry to address challenges effectively, he noted.
The Open-Ended Technical Expert Group will meet in 2026
Representatives from States and organizations joined the discussions and welcomed the new Group as an opportunity to bridge technical and capacity gaps between countries and to address illicit small arms and light weapons. Some obstacles have yet to be overcome for the Open-Ended Technical Expert Group to become operational, including ensuring the right level of technical capacities of members of the group. Steps should be taken to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women as well as to meaningfully involve industry and civil society in the process.
In 2025, UNODA, in its capacity as the substantive Secretariat, will begin the work of setting up the group. Questions and input can be directed to conventional-arms@unoda.org.
