EU NON-PROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT

NEXT GENERATION WORKSHOP

DECEMBER, 2019 - BRUXELLES

Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:

A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

Martha Mariana Mendoza Basulto

Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:
A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

• The annual value of the world arms trade represents almost 100 billion USD, which is twice the annual total
of the Official Development Assistance granted by the OECD.

• The current volume of international arms trade has continue growing since the early 2000s, reaching its
highest level since the end of the Cold War.

• The five largest suppliers of arms (United States, Russia, France, Germany, and China) are responsible for
around 75% of the global volume of exports.

• More than one billion SALW in the World and that each year 8 million new weapons and 12 billion
ammunition are produced which means that there are at least two munitions for every inhabitant on the planet.

• On average, 1,500 lives are taken daily by conventional arms.

Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:
A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

Trade of conventional arms in Latin America (SIPRI, 2019)

• Brazil is 23rd larger exporter of arms. Main clients: Afghanistan, Indonesia and Lebanon.

• Mexico is 34th larger importer of arms. Main suppliers: United States, France, Netherlands.

Violent deaths by firearm, rates per 100,000 population, 2017

• El Salvador (53.3) • Jamaica (41.7) • Guatemala (21.3)

• Venezuela (52.5) • Honduras (27.4) • Colombia (18.0)
• Trinidad and Tobago (23.7) • México (16.0)
• Bahamas (22.0) • Belize (15.5)
• Brazil (21.7) • Panama (11.7)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis (21.7) • Dominican Republic (9.0)
Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:
A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

Illicit trade of conventional arms, specially SALW is a critical problem in the region

• Between 2011 and 2016, according to official records, at least 106,000 weapons manufactured in the United
States (70% purchased from a licensed dealer) were linked to criminal activities in Mexico.

• More than 200,000 firearms are estimated to be smuggled across the border between USA and Mexico every
year.

• Central America, particularly El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, is considered one of the most violent
regions in the world.
Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:
A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

Regional factors

• Past armed conflicts

• Porous boarders
• Inadequate regulations
• Lack of information and accountability
• Political context and organized crime

Countermeasures and practices against illicit trade of SALW in Latin America

• Licenses and regulations

• End use / user certificates
• Marking, tracing and record-keeping
• State stocktaking
• Destruction and dismantle of unwanted weapons
• Boarder security strengthening actions
Illicit Trade of Conventional Arms, including SALW:
A regional perspective from Latin America and The Caribbean

Countermeasures and practices against illicit trade of SALW in Latin America

• Licenses and regulations

• End use / user certificates

• Marking, tracing and record-keeping

• State stocktaking

• Destruction and dismantle of unwanted weapons

• Boarder security strengthening actions