Programme of Action
on small arms and light weapons

Sustainable Development Goals

The illicit trade in small arms and light weapons has implications for the achievement of several Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including those relating to peace, justice and strong institutions, poverty reduction, economic growth, health, gender equality, and safe cities and communities. States have agreed therefore to take advantage of PoA national reporting to support data collection for relevant indicators, in particular SDG indicator 16.4.2 under Target 16.4 on significant reduction of illicit arms flows. Such data collected through national reports are aggregated, analyzed and reported to the Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA), as a solid contribution of the PoA process to the SDG framework.

SDG

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

“Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”

Target 16.4

[By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime].

Indicator 16.4.2:

“Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms, whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments”, UNODC and UNODA.

Indicator 16.4.3 (proposed):

“Number and percentage of seized, found or surrendered small arms and light weapons that have been marked and recorded, or destroyed in accordance with relevant international instruments, to prevent diversion into illicit flows”, UNODA

SDG