Negotiations on Small Arms and Light Weapons: A Multidimensional Perspective

The phenomenon of small arms and light weapons, and the problems and impact these cause are the subject of this article. According to the author, some consider these to be weapons of mass destruction because of the number of victims they have claimed. The use and abuse of such weapons, he says, not only have repercussions on security but on development and human rights, which confers a more complex, multidimensional character to international negotiations on this issue. De Alba Góngora believes that small arms and light weapons are strongly linked to criminal activities and drug trafficking, making these a real problem for national security. In the specific case of Mexico, the government has been promoting an ambitious agenda that attempts to offset the effects of the proliferation of small arms both on a regional and international level, although a solution to the problem does not lie in the hands of one single country. Negotia tions are progressing at a relatively modest pace due to the diverse approaches being taken and the variety of interests involved. As De Alba so rightly points out, on an international level, legally binding agreements intended to address the problem are somewhat limited and the only agreement of a broader nature is not binding, which makes it all the more important for Mexico to continue promoting a multidimensional approach that brings the international community closer to solving the problems created by these types of weapons.