Article 1

1.

With a view to supporting the fight against the illicit trade in SALW by minimising the risk of diversion, including through theft, loss and unauthorised re-export, of SALW to illicit markets, illegal armed groups, terrorists and other unauthorised recipients, the Union shall, by means of this Decision, pursue the following objectives:

  • supporting the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument;

  • ensuring the relevance of the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument and increasing their effectiveness;

  • supporting actions towards a successful and relevant outcome of the 2018 Third UN Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the UN Programme of Action (‘RevCon3’).

2.

In order to achieve the objectives referred to in paragraph 1, the Union shall, by means of this Decision, support the following:

  • the preparation of RevCon3 through a series of thematic symposia and regional conferences;

  • a comprehensive analysis of UN Member States' national reports on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument, to be presented at RevCon3;

  • a sponsorship programme for the participants of third countries;

  • the provision of technical support for the RevCon3 President;

  • four thematic symposia producing action-oriented findings on topics related to SALW control. The selected topics were defined as priorities in EU working papers that were submitted to UN Programme of Action meetings (BMS5 in 2014 and BMS6 in 2016) and were reflected in the outcome documents of those meetings:

    1. (i)

      SALW tracing and stockpile management in conflict and post-conflict situations;

    2. (ii)

      SALW and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the gender aspects of SALW control;

    3. (iii)

      recent developments in SALW manufacturing, technology and design and resulting challenges and opportunities for the implementation of the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument;

    4. (iv)

      synergies between the UN Programme of Action, the Arms Trade Treaty and other relevant instruments;

  • five regional conferences allowing for engagement with government representatives and regional organisations from selected regions on the outcome papers from the thematic symposia;

  • analysis of national reports on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action and International Tracing Instrument with a focus on implementation challenges that give rise to opportunities for cooperation and assistance;

  • strengthening the foundations for RevCon3 by means of a sponsorship programme and technical support to the RevCon3 President; and

  • outreach through press statements and side events.

3.

A detailed description of the project referred to in paragraph 2 is set out in the Annex to this Decision.