UNIDIR, Supporting UNIDIR's activities related to development countries

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Finland’s Development Policy Programme states that there is no development without security. The Programme outlines that Finland promotes human rights, democracy and responsible society by participating national and international projects to prevent the spread of illegal small arms as well as the unregulated arms trade. UNIDIR (UN Institute for Disarmament Research) is a voluntarily funded autonomous institute within the United Nations. The Institute generates ideas and promotes action on disarmament and security. The development of the small arms standards (ISACS) started in 2008. ISACS is a tool by which international small arms instruments (UNPoA, International Tracing Instrument, Firearms Protocol) would be easier and more effective to implement. After development of standards, UNIDIR and the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) proposed to develop a set of indicators in implementing global commitments to SALW controls. The newly developed International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) will be the basis for these indicators. In the Phase I, MIIS and UNIDIR developed a software tool which allows the user to generate statistics on ISACS implementation efforts, prioritize critical areas, measure implementation trends over time, and identify areas for improvement. In Phase II, up to five countries will test the indicators and software and give feedback to the research team. In practice the Finnish contribution will support Kenya and CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) countries in using the tool. Small arms problems is especially challenging in Africa and Latin America. Small arms are Africa’s weapons of mass destruction. In Africa and Latin America in all areas of small arms control, like stockpile management, marking and tracing, exist problems. With the developed tool it is possible to improve all areas which are covered in the small arms instrument. http://www.unidir.org/ http://www.miis.edu/