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Home > Projects & Research > Small Arms & Light Weapons : Final Report to United Nations

Small Arms & Light Weapons

Final Report to United Nations

Ms. Barbara Frey, Prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons, A/HRC/Sub.1/58/27* (2006).

Frey completed her study as Special Rapporteur on small arms and light weapons and presented the study and its recommendations in August 2006 to the 58th session of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.

The Sub-Commission welcomed Frey's final report and, in an August 24, 2006 resolution, endorsed fifteen Principles on the Prevention of Human Rights Violations Committed with Small Arms. The Sub-Commission transmitted the Principles to the UN Human Rights Council for consideration and adoption. The Sub-Commission's actions represent the highest level United Nations recognition of the critical link between unregulated access to small arms and human rights violations.

In her final report, Frey emphasized that States have a primary responsibility to maximize human rights protection for the greatest number of people. This human rights responsibility means that States must take affirmative steps to prevent foreseeable human rights violations committed with guns. Frey concluded that States must not merely criminalize armed violence, but must actively keep small arms out of the hands of those who are most likely to misuse them.

Frey also found that the principle of self-defense, as a legal exemption to criminal liability, does not require States to alow civilian possession nore does it diminish the State's responsibility to impose reasonable regulations on gun use.

Report Appendix (PDF)