International Arms Trade
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) historically focused on peace and humanitarian issues have turned their attention to the small arms and light weapons (guns) that are responsible for most of the killing in the world. International governmental agencies such as UNESCO, the United Nations (UN), Interpol, and the World Health Organization are also looking at how the illegal global trade in small arms has impacted violence from the Horn of Africa to the suburbs of America. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) is proud to be involved in the work of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). As a founding member of IANSA, the Coalition has participated in a series of United Nations conferences "To Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects." The focus is on encouraging governments to adopt a set of guidelines on the international transfer of small arms and light weapons to prevent them from falling into the hands of criminal elements and groups that engage in crimes against humanity and genocide. At a July 2001 conference, UN Member States adopted a Program of Action on small arms. In June-July 2006 there was a UN Review Conference to assess progress made and actions needed to further stem the illegal small arms trade. At the Biennial Meeting of States on Small Arms in July 2008, the UN reaffirmed their commitment to the small arms process. At this meeting, 134 states voted for an agreement to discuss arms brokering legislation, the marking and tracing of firearms, and the management of arsenals. CSGV has participated as an NGO representing civil society in each of these sessions and will continue to do so at future meetings.
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Worldwide, 1,000 people die every day as a result of gun violence; many because of the illegal global trade in small arms, which is estimated at $1 billion per year. 
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