The United Nations process on small arms: minimal but useful consensus (Cédric Poitevin)

The Fourth Biennial Meeting of States on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (SALW) took place in New York from 14 to 18 June 2010. Drawing on the 2008 meeting which managed to put the process back on track, the meeting reached a consensus-based outcome document focused on 3 specific topics (plus a miscellaneous point) of the Programme of Action (illicit cross-border trade, international cooperation and assistance, follow-up mechanism). However, this time again, States very little addressed the actual impact of the measures undertaken to combat the illicit traffic of small arms and light weapons. The final document will however be useful to assess the measures and initiatives to be taken by the States in the future.

The 2010 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty : Toward the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime (Bérangère Rouppert)

The eighth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons will be held in May 2010. After forty years of implementation, the NPT suffers a deep crisis of trust due to the development of the international geopolitical context and the risks of proliferation. During the preparatory meetings, States Parties reaffirmed their commitment to the NPT and asked for a bigger compliance with the obligations of the Treaty and for a strengthening of the non-proliferation regime. Recent global initiatives, indicating an universal awareness of the need to pursue a global disarmament program and to avoid the emergence of new nuclear states, are the sign a possible positive outcome at the end of the Conference.