NCJ Number
216136
Date Published
August 2006
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This report of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime summarizes and analyzes responses from state parties to the Convention regarding progress they have made in implementing provisions of the Convention's Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.
Abstract
The report outlines progress by state parties in developing national legislation and measures that reflect the mandatory and optional provisions of the protocol. It first analyzes definitions of the following terms in state parties' protocol-related legislation: "firearms," "parts and components," and "ammunition." The report analyzes whether the definitions of these terms in state parties' legislation complies with the definitions specified in the protocol. The report then analyzes state parties' compliance with the mandatory criminalization requirements of the Firearms Protocol. Article Five of the protocol establishes six offenses linked to the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components, and ammunition. The intent of Article Five is to ensure that state parties establish a legal framework within which legitimate manufacturing and transfer of firearms can be conducted and illicit transactions can be identified. This report indicates progress by state parties in criminalizing the following offenses: manufacture or assembly from illicit parts and components; unlicensed or unauthorized manufacture or assembly; manufacture or assembly of firearms without marking; illicit trafficking; trafficking in unmarked firearms; tampering with markings; and participation as an accomplice and organizing, directing, aiding, abetting, facilitating,or counseling the commission of an offense. Progress is also noted in the implementation of optional criminalization requirements specified in the Firearms Protocol. Other matters discussed are state parties' compliance with international cooperation requirements of the protocol and difficulties state parties have encountered in implementing protocol provisions, as well as their expressed need for technical assistance. Appended list of relevant legislation received and Web site addresses