04.04.2025 Statement by Denmark at Arria-Formula Meeting on Small Arms Control

Checked Against Delivery

Thank you, Chair,

I would like to start by thanking Sierra Leone for convening this aria-formula meeting I also thank Director Ebo and others for their informative briefings and clear recommendations.

As we have heard, Small Arms and Light Weapons continue to cause the majority of violent deaths in conflict and non-conflict settings.

They facilitate human rights abuses; threaten peace and stabilisation efforts and undermine humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians.

Put simply, addressing this threat is fundamental to the Council’s work.

The Security Council, along with international actors, has played a critical role in addressing this issue. From the regulation of arms manufacturing and transfers, to stockpile management, marking and tracing, as well as post-conflict disarmament and reintegration measures.

However, more can and needs to be done.

Allow me to focus on four areas.

First,

Effective control of Small Arms and Light Weapons is not an end in itself. Rather, it is an integral part of our wider approach to peace and security.

UN sanctions regimes, including arms embargoes, are an important tool. Effective compliance and implementation are needed.

In this regard, the independent Panels of Experts play a critical role in monitoring and reporting. Their ability to work effectively directly impacts the Council’s ability to oversee the implementation of sanctions regimes.

In other words, we have the instruments and we are using them – yet Small Arms and Light Weapons continue to flow. 

Ultimately, it comes down to the political will to implement and enforce arms embargoes by all relevant actors, including refraining from interference. Countering the circumvention of arms embargoes is of equal importance.

Second,

To counter the illicit flow of Small Arms and Light Weapons, arms embargoes alone are not enough. Cooperation and assistance are key.

It is critical to strengthen domestic frameworks in affected states. This includes through national legislation, enhanced capacity to monitor proliferation trends, improved custom and border control, as well as better stockpile management procedures.

Where UN peace operations are deployed, their support to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts as well as national efforts to counter Small Arms and Light Weapons are important. But they are often not sufficient to address arms flows within active conflict.

They require strong mandates to monitor, identify and disrupt flows of illicit arms and ammunition into the areas in which they operate. For that to be effective political support is required.

Third,

Partnerships and Council support to regional efforts and initiatives are needed. Denmark is a firm supporter of the African Union’s “Silencing the Guns” initiative.

Similarly, regional road maps, such as those implemented by ECOWAS are also making important strides.

Best practices from regional efforts should be further explored and exchanged with the Council. So too should the synergies between regional efforts and sanction regimes. 

Fourth,

We need to incorporate a gender dimension when addressing Small Arms and Light Weapons.

This includes promoting women’s full and effective participation in all efforts to counter the illicit transfer and use of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and protecting women and girls from conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in connection with the use of such weapons.

In closing,

As we approach 10 years since the adoption of Resolution 2220, today’s meeting is not only a timely stocktake of the Council’s tools and challenges.

It is a collective reminder to strengthen our action to prevent the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons and to effectively implement our related UN sanctions regimes.

Denmark looks forward to continuing this important discussion.

Thank you.