Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, noting the significance of small arms and light weapons as the most frequently used weapons in the majority of recent arm

Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security, noting the significance of small arms and light weapons as the most frequently used weapons in the majority of recent armed conflicts and emphasizing that the excessive accumulation and destabilizing effect of small arms and light weapons have a potential to endanger civilians, including women, children, refugees, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups