Upcoming UN meeting to address nexus between illicit flow of small arms and light weapons and sustainable development
New York, 13 March 2025?– To comprehensively tackle the devastating impact of the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons on sustainable development, the President of the 79th?session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Philemon Yang, and the President of the UN Economic and Social Council, H.E. Bob Rae, in collaboration with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, will convene a meeting on Monday, 17 March 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
This joint meeting entitled “Small arms and light weapons control for preventing violence and advancing sustainable development” will be an opportunity to engage with all relevant stakeholders to discuss how small arms and light weapons control can become a part of policies on development, violence prevention and human rights protection.
In 2023, violence linked to small arms and light weapons cost the global economy $22.6 billion which exceeded Official Development Assistance (ODA) for education, which was $14.4 billion and for health which was $21.8?billion.
Additionally, women and girls continue to disproportionately bear the brunt of the impact of the use of small arms and light weapons. ?It is estimated that between 70 and 90 per cent of incidents of conflict-related sexual violence involve small arms and light weapons.
Discussions will focus on the impacts of illicit small arms and light weapons in Africa, the integration of small arms and light weapons control into national development strategies within the Latin America and the Caribbean region, armed violence reduction in other regions, youth perspectives on the challenges posed by small arms control and the gender dimensions of small arms and light weapons.
What: Joint meeting on Small arms and light weapons control for preventing violence and advancing sustainable development
When:?Monday, 17 March 2025, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT
Where: Trusteeship Council Chamber, the United Nations Headquarters, New York
Follow live on UN WebTV?
Format:?Both President Yang and President Rae will deliver opening remarks, followed by a series of panel discussions.
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms Izumi Nakamitsu, will provide concluding remarks.
More information on the event, including the programme, is available here.
Media Accreditation
Accredited media are welcome to attend by registering here?or contacting the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit at malu@sby168.com
Media Contacts
Dr Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/Social and Digital Media/Media, Email: mariam.shaikh@sby168.com
Mr. Paul Simon, Communication Focal Point, ECOSOC Secretariat, Email: simonp@sby168.com
More Information and Updates:?Website:??YouTube:?X (Twitter):?Instagram:??LinkedIn:?Photo Repository:?Resolutions of the 79th Session – UN General Assembly:?Highlights at the General Assembly
