Intro speech on illicit trafficking of weapons

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. The Republic of Sudan feels that the issue of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is becoming an increasing issue because poverty is motivating civilians to do illegal activities to get the resources they need. This motivation has risen to a point where it is becoming easier for civilians to obtain these weapons. And what do we as the international community do to help this issue? We produce more small arms and light weapons than necessary. Millions of innocent civilians are being harmed and we, Sudan, a developing nation with only 160 hospitals can’t treat everyone. Therefore, this issue has become a work in progress that needs to be solved now before things get worst than what they already are.

Currently Sudan is adhering to the Nairobi Protocol by trying to get civilians to easily surrender their weapons so that we don’t have to take action. However, with poverty being a force driving civilians to take what little resources we have just so that they can survive for who knows when, it makes it rather difficult on our hands. We Sudan ask you the international community to work with us and end this issue so that millions of lives can be saved from the misuse of light weapons and small arms. No more we’re going to do this or planning to do that. We must act now and come up with a clear understanding of how this issue will be regulated and cause no more harm. Sudan would like to hear ideas on how to best regulate boarder trafficking and limit the production of light weapons. We want all nations to comply with the terms of the Nairobi Protocol and strengthen it. One good, initial step is to guarantee that weapons won’t be trafficked through neighboring boarders or any other nation by having stronger boarder enforcers is a start.
The heart of the problem is poverty. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, "Competition between Arab and African tribal groups over the scarce primary resources in Darfur—arable land and water—has been exacerbated by advancing desertification throughout the Sahel region." Obviously not every nation is facing poverty issue but their the ones making these harmful weapons and the civilians living in a nation going through poverty buy them in hopes that, with these weapons they can intimidate or kill others for resources. It creates a battle of survival out there and according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights everyone is titled to simple simplicities such as equal rights, food, and a roof under their heads. Yet they are tons of people living in countries without this. We all signed on to this declaration and we aren’t upholding to it. Therefore, other issues such as trafficking of weapons have increased tremendously. No more pin-pointing nations problems, is time for a change. By the end of this conference the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons should be no more!

We look forward to working with you, thank you honorable chair