Minister Dhakal hopes that the progressive ratification of Arms Trade Treaty will go a long way in enhancing international regulatory framework in the trade of small arms and light weapons through a legally binding instrument. Minister Dhakal outlined the issues such as poverty, illiteracy, discrimination, lack of ethical education, lack of internationally binding treaty, unclear policies / politicians or careless officials and no agreed international standard of marking and tracing weapons to combat Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons and Mitigation of Armed Violence.

Minister Dhakal said “It is deeply disappointing that in spite of all global and national efforts made the menace of these arms and weapons continues to persist”. Minister Dhakal also made a fresh appeal to wider audience to join hands for greater collaboration at all levels to combat Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons and Mitigation of Armed Violence which cause human suffering.

The Round-table meeting was participated by the law makers from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar and chaired by lawmaker Arzu Rana Deuba. Nepalese lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak, Australian Ambassador to Nepal Glenn White, deputy Director of UNDP Sophie Kemkhadze, PGA’s Director for Peace and Democracy Peter Barcroft are among others who addressed the meeting.

Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) is a non-profit, non-partisan international network of over 1,100 committed legislators in 140 Parliaments around the world, informs and mobilizes parliamentarians in all regions of the world to advocate for human rights and rule of law, democracy, human security non-discrimination, and gender equality.