We the participants inof the Human Security Network reaffirm our commitment to intensify and coordinate efforts to address the human suffering caused by the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Recalling the conclusions of the first and second Human Security Network Ministerial Meetings in Lysöen , Norway in May 1999 and in Lucerne, Switzerland in May 2000 respectively, participants in the Human Security Network affirm their strong commitment to ensure a successful U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects. To this end, Human Security Network participants encourage the Conference to:

• Adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the problems caused by all aspects of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, recognizing that these challenges are multi-faceted and involve not only security, but also humanitarian, health and development dimensions;
• Recognize the importance of sustained and complementary efforts at all levels - local, national, regional and international - and that cooperation and coordination between and among states, international organizations, regional bodies and civil society is essential;
• Acknowledge that both suppliers and recipient countries bear responsibility for finding common solutions to counter these problems.
• Encourage States, the UN, other appropriate international and regional organizations to undertake initiatives to promote the implementation of the Programme of Action to be adopted by the Conference.
• Human Security Network participants stress that the Conference is not an end in itself, but rather an important means for further action in the area of small arms. They also undertook to cooperate in an active programme of follow up to the conference.

Human Security Network participants agree that the main aims of theconference Conference should be to:

• Prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.
• Develop agreed international measures to prevent and combat illicit arms trafficking in and manufacturing of small arms and light weapons and to reduce excessive and destabilizing accumulations of such weapons throughout the world.

Participants of the Human Security Network underline the need to take into account fully the threat to human security posed by the proliferation and misuse of these weapons. This will involve giving full attention to the following clusters of issues:

• Promoting a secure environment in conflict-prone or war-torn regions, through, in particular, implementing UN arms embargoes, strengthening and reforming security sector institutions and promoting implementation of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes;
• Combating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects through, amongst others, the strengthening of marking, record-keeping and tracing by adopting adequate laws, regulations, and administrative procedures on the manufacture and transfer of these weapons;
• Reducing the risks of diversion by taking appropriate measures and developing national systems to control arms transfers by manufacturers, suppliers, traders, brokers, as well as shipping and transit agents;
• Strengthening international cooperation and information exchange between governments, licensing or judicial authorities and enforcement agencies as well as improving transparency;
• Enhancing national stockpile management and security and promoting destruction or responsible and legal disposal of surplus weapons in official stocks;
• Promoting and assisting collection, responsible and legal disposal and destruction of excessive or surplus and illicit small arms and light weapons.

Guided by these issue clusters, Human Security Network participants agree to consider supporting the creation of programmes to assist countries in implementing national strategies and contributing to regional and international actions. Human Security Network participants also agreed to continue to work together to advance practical work and build the political will and global consensus required for a successful conference.

On behalf of Human Security Network participants and as the host of the third Ministerial Meeting of the Network in Petra on May 11-12, 2001, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will convey this statement to the Chair of the U.N. Conference.