Illicit Trafficking

Illicit Trafficking

Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms

Note: See the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms here for previous articles of the Convention.

Article XX

Establishment and Functions of the Consultative Committee

1. In order to attain the objectives of this Convention, the States Parties
shall establish a Consultative Committee responsible for:

a. promoting the exchange of information contemplated under this Convention;

b. facilitating the exchange of information on domestic legislation and
administrative procedures of the States Parties;

c. encouraging cooperation between national liaison authorities to detect
suspected illicit exports and imports of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and
other related materials;

d. promoting training and exchange of knowledge and experience among States
Parties and technical assistance between States Parties and relevant
International Organizations , as well as academic studies;
e. requesting from nonparty states, when appropriate, information on the
illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, ammunition, explosives,
and other related materials; and

f. promoting measures to facilitate the application of this Convention.

2. Decisions of the Consultative Committee shall be recommendatory in nature.

3. The Consultative Committee shall maintain the confidentiality of any
information it receives in the exercise of its functions, if requested to do so.

Article XXI

Structure and Meetings of the Consultative Committee

1. The Consultative Committee shall consist of one representative of each
State Party.

2. The Consultative Committee shall hold one regular meeting each year and
shall hold special meetings as necessary.

3. The first regular meeting of the Consultative Committee shall be held
within 90 days following deposit of the 10th instrument of ratification of this
Convention. This meeting shall be held at the headquarters of the General
Secretariat of the Organization of American States, unless a State Party has
offered to host it.

4. The meetings of the Consultative Committee shall be held at a place
decided upon by the States Parties at the previous regular meeting. If no offer
of a site has been made, the Consultative Committee shall meet at the
headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States.

5. The host State Party for each regular meeting shall serve as Secretariat
pro tempore of the Consultative Committee until the next regular meeting. When a
regular meeting is held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the
Organization of American States, a State Party that will serve as Secretariat
pro tempore shall be elected at that meeting.

6. In consultation with the States Parties, the Secretariat pro tempore shall
be responsible for:

a. convening regular and special meetings of the Consultative Committee;

b. preparing a draft agenda for the meetings; and

c. preparing the draft reports and minutes of the meetings.

7. The Consultative Committee shall prepare its own internal rules of
procedure and shall adopt them by absolute majority.

Article XXII

Signature This Convention is open for signature by member states of the Organization of
American States.

Article XXIII

Ratification

This Convention is subject to ratification. The instruments of ratification
shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Organization of American
States.

Article XXIV

Reservations

States Parties may, at the time of adoption, signature, or ratification, make
reservations to this Convention, provided that said reservations are not
incompatible with the object and purposes of the Convention and that they
concern one or more specific provisions thereof.

Article XXV

Entry into Force

This Convention shall enter into force on the 30th day following the date of
deposit of the second instrument of ratification. For each state ratifying the
Convention after the deposit of the second instrument of ratification, the
Convention shall enter into force on the 30th day following deposit by such
state of its instrument of ratification.

Article XXVI

Denunciation

1. This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely, but any State Party
may denounce it. The instrument of denunciation shall be deposited with the
General Secretariat of the Organization of American States. After six months
from the date of deposit of the instrument of denunciation, the Convention shall
no longer be in force for the denouncing State, but shall remain in force for
the other States Parties.

2. The denunciation shall not affect any requests for information or
assistance made during the time the Convention is in force for the denouncing
State.

Article XXVII

Other Agreements and Practices

1. No provision in this Convention shall be construed as preventing the
States Parties from engaging in mutual cooperation within the framework of other
existing or future international, bilateral, or multilateral agreements, or of
any other applicable arrangements or practices.
2. States Parties may adopt stricter measures than those provided for by this
Convention if, in their opinion, such measures are desirable to prevent, combat,
and eradicate the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms,
ammunition, explosives, and other related materials.

Article XXVIII

Conference of States Parties

Five years after the entry into force of this Convention, the depository
shall convene a conference of the States Parties to examine the functioning and
application of this Convention. Each conference shall determine the date on
which the next conference should be held.

Article XXIX

Dispute Settlement

Any dispute that may arise as to the application or interpretation of this
Convention shall be resolved through diplomatic channels or, failing which, by
any other means of peaceful settlement decided upon by the States Parties
involved.

Article XXX

Deposit

The original instrument of this Convention, the English, French, Portuguese,
and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the
General Secretariat of the Organization of American States, which shall forward
an authenticated copy of its text to the Secretariat of the United Nations for
registration and publication, in accordance with Article 102 of the United
Nations Charter. (…)

In relation to Inter-American Treaties, Conventions and Agreements adopted within the framework of the OAS

The Organization of American States (a list of Members of the Organization of American States is here) adopted the following international instruments regarding Weapons:

  • Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials
  • Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions

Conclusion

Notes

See Also

References and Further Reading

About the Author/s and Reviewer/s

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, International Organizations.


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