STATEMENT BY MS JASMINE LIM, DELEGATE OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE, AT THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FIRST COMMITTEE THEMATIC DISCUSSION ON CLUSTER FOUR: CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS, 24 OCTOBER 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair, 

Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered by Cambodia on behalf of ASEAN and Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). I would like to make three points in our national capacity.

2 First, Singapore remains firmly committed to the United Nations’ work in curbing the illicit arms trade and the indiscriminate use of conventional arms. The widespread availability, misuse, and illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) continues to threaten global peace and security, heightening armed conflicts and violence. We fully support the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA). We commend the achievements of the 4th Review Conference of the PoA that took place in June 2024, and support the implementation of the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). Singapore also continues to fully support the implementation of the Global Framework for safe, secure, and sustainable through-life conventional ammunition management. 

3 Second, Singapore remains concerned with the severe humanitarian impact resulting from the indiscriminate use of conventional weapons on innocent civilians. We reaffirm our commitment to the responsible use of such weapons. After depositing our instrument of accession to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in September 2023, we formally became a High Contracting Party in March 2024. We also remain supportive of global initiatives against the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, and have maintained an indefinite moratorium on their export. Singapore has consistently voted in favour of the relevant UN resolutions on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

4 Third, Singapore continues to uphold transparency in the conventional arms trade and promotes the establishment of common international standards. Since 1993, we have regularly submitted national reports to the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA). We were actively involved in the work of the 2019 and 2022 Groups of Governmental Experts (GGE) on UNROCA, and strongly encourage the implementation of the 2022 GGE recommendations to maintain the relevance of UNROCA as a transparency and confidence-building measure. As one of the world’s global shipping hubs, Singapore complies strictly with our international obligations on international arms sales and transfers. Our export control regime is robust, aligned with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and regularly reviewed to maintain its currency. 

Madam Chair,

5 It is critical that all States meet their obligations to curb the illicit trade and indiscriminate use of conventional arms. At the same time, States have the sovereign right to acquire arms for legitimate self-defence and responsible law enforcement. Singapore reaffirms its commitment to cooperating with the international community to curb the unauthorised diversion and illicit trade of conventional weapons, and to working towards a more peaceful and secure world for all.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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