Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the United Nations Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė reminded that about 90 percent of all the civilians killed or injured - with small arms. "Every minute as we speak, a life is lost because of the illicit trade or misuse of small arms and light weapons. Besides causing deaths and injuries, such illicit flows facilitate the commission of hideous human rights abuses and atrocities and indirectly, impede development and growth. By adopting this resolution, we help protect to lives, "- said the representative of Lithuania. She also thanked all States that supported Lithuania's draft of UN Security Council resolution.
The resolution emphasizes the need to protect victims, particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups. The text prepared by Lithuania, recognizes the importance of preventing the illicit transfers and sales of weapons and ammunition, including small arms and light weapons, to armed groups and criminal networks that target civilians and civilian objects.
The Security Council resolution also addresses Member States to put in place laws, rules and administrative procedures to allow them to effectively control the production of small arms and small arms within their jurisdiction and the export, import, transit or retransfer of such weapons. The document expressed strong support for an Arms Trade Treaty, which seeks to reduce human suffering posed by illegal arms trade.
Together with Lithuania, 56 UN Member States became co-authors of the UN Security Council resolution. This is the first UN Security Council resolution drafted by Lithuania. In May Lithuania chairs the UN Security Council.
