Kathmandu, June 18: A conference on small arms began here today with an aim to create awareness among the people of South Asia on the threats posed by trade and proliferation in these arms. Organised at the joint initiative of the regional network on small arms in South Asia and South Asia Partnership, Nepal, the "small arms proliferation and trade" conference will help Kathmandu formulate a national action plan to deal with the problems posed by these arms.

About 50 delegates from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Canada and UK are participating in the three-day conference.

Mainly women and children have become victims of the proliferation of small arms around the world, said a participant at the conference.

The pilferage of arms from the government's godowns have armed the criminals and mafia around the world, they pointed out.

The nexus between criminal gangs, arms dealers and politicians are causing threats to the civil society, they said stressing on the need to introduce effective legislation to check illegal trade on small arms.

Nepal and Bhutan are the only countries in South Asia where a national action plan on small arms in lacking.

Bureau Report