Small Arms Proliferation and Misuse in the Southeast Asia

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the impact of small arms proliferation in Southeast Asian region. It highlights studies that detail illegal activities that allow rebels access to small arms with which to perpetrate further chaos in the country by undermining vital aspects of basic human security.

Contents
Introduction
Small Arms Proliferation and its Impacts on Human Security in Southeast Asia

From the Paper:

"According to the "Small Arms Survey 2002: Counting the Human Cost" published by the University of Geneva, the total number of human lives lost to small arms has reached approximately 639 million worldwide. Relatedly, according to the United Nations, the current number of small arms around the world is estimated to be 500 million to 1 billion. Light weapons are found to be the principal cause of death in conflicts around the world with the vast number of casualties belonging to civilians. It appears that despite the numerous lives lost, small arms and light weapons remain largely available in the world.
Small arms proliferation and their subsequent misuse by criminal elements have not only caused massive deaths but also undermined the equally important aspects of human security. These aspects include economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security and political security. With the increasing level of small arms proliferation and the resulting instability and insecurity it causes, human security is threatened. It serves to prolong the violent intra-state conflicts, and worst, encourage the demand for more arms for more profit to arms peddlers and for self-defense of neglected civilians. It is in this context that human security is examined amidst the proliferation and misuse of small arms in Southeast Asia."

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