Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects BMS9
Agenda Item 7 - Implementation
Statement by Mr. Oliver Clarke, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
1 June 2026
Thank you Chair.
Australia remains committed to thwarting the diversion of illicit small arms and light weapons. The deadly antisemitic terrorist attack in Sydney [Bondi Beach] in December last year was a national tragedy. Australia’s response has aimed to address the motivation and method behind the attack – by strengthening our gun laws and cracking down on hate speech. Our domestic efforts go hand in hand with global efforts to implement the Programme of Action.
UN figures for 2024 that small arms were responsible for up to 30 per cent of the 48,000 conflict-related civilian deaths that year underscores the challenge before us. And UNODA’s finding that 70 to 90 percent of conflict related sexual violence involve small arms and light weapons is striking. It demonstrates a particularly tragic dimension to the problems we face in the illicit diversion of small arms and light weapons.
Chair,
Addressing the gaps created by technological innovation, as well as seizing the opportunities technology offers us in combatting the diversion of SALW is an important focus of BMS9. We welcome the opportunity to participate in the first Open Ended Technical Expert Group meetings to be held this week and encourage States to fully engage. Australia has a particular interest in the exchanges on polymers, modular and illicit 3D printing.
Chair,
3D printing of firearms and firearm parts is putting illicit ‘ghost guns’ in the hands of more people with nefarious objectives. These guns bear no serial numbers or markings. We must work together to prevent those who are willing to step outside the bounds of humanity from accessing these weapons. Our efforts at home have included passing laws to make it an offence to possess blueprints of 3D-printable weapons with the intention to commit, facilitate the commission of, or actually commission a serious offence.
Chair,
Technological developments are also helping us trace SALW which have had their markings obliterated. In Australia we have seized such firearms and we employ a range of techniques recover the markings. In addition, we have passed legislation that makes it an offence to tamper with markings on firearms. Our National Firearms Identification Database provides a valuable reference tool to assist in full identification and tracing and Australia has commenced utilising SmartWater technology in tracing the movements of firearms and ammunition. In these ways we have sought to thwart illicit diversion of small arms and light weapons. We encourage States to utilise the full range of tools, both legislative and technological, to combat this threat.
Chair,
Australia recognises that cooperation and assistance at the regional level are essential if flows of illicit weapons are to be disrupted. We were pleased to participate in the first Asia-Pacific UN Fellowship Training Program in SALW held in Jabalpur, India earlier this year. Participants benefitted tremendously from expert tuition and networking opportunities and built understanding of region-specific challenges in combatting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. We thank and commend UNODA, the UNRCPD and India for the success of the program.
Thank you.