Illicit Small Arms in the Pacific: Cause for Concern?

Abstract

Illicit small arms1 can cause insecurity and instability for populations, governments, and regions alike, whether used in civil disorder, crime or conflict. While it is unlikely that there are large numbers of these weapons currently in the western Pacific, even small numbers of illicit small arms can be seriously destabilising. Small arms are also relatively easy to transfer, use, and hide, making their proliferation, detection and effective control a considerable challenge. This In Brief makes some initial observations of illicit small arms movements in the western Pacific, with a particular focus on demand for such weapons. In-country research, for a project funded by the Australian Civil-Military Centre, will be undertaken late 2014 into 2015.