Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the

Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical

Weapons and on their Destruction In compliance with Brazil’s traditional stance on disarmament, our government has

never produced or intended to produce chemical weapons. Even before signing the OPCW,

Brazil took part in regional chemical non-proliferation acts such as signing the Mendoza

Treatment, which condemned and prohibited the development, production, acquisition,

stocking or transfer of chemical weapons. Federal Republic of Brazil has ratified the

Chemical Weapons Convention in 1996. The first director general of OPCW was Brazilian

himself. (His Excellency Jose M. Bustani has served untill 2002) Between 1999 and 2001,

Federal Republic of Brazil served in the Executive Committee of the OPCW. Brazil is

recognised as one of the most active participants of the convension, as we have been

volunterily sending progress reports. We have hosted the Third Regional Assistance-and-Protection

Course on Chemical Emergency Response in the past year, which shows Brazil’s continued strong

support for strengthening the regime of the OPCW. As our ambassador for OPCW, His

Excellency Luiz Filipe de Macedo Soares has stated in 2008, we attach the highest

importance to the Chemical Weapons Convention and to the work done by the OPCW due to

its successful role as an organ of disarmament and non-proliferation.

Implementation of the Program of Action on small arms

and light weapons (SALW) 

The illegal trafficking of arms in Brazil is related with the increasing rates of crime

and violence in our country. Therefore our government has been working to eradicate the

issue of illegal firearms trafficking as this is the source of a threat to public security. In the

recent years, legislation regarding the possession and trade of firearms was made stricter,

thus, giving the government more control over the small arms market. As for Arms Trade

Treaty, we are of course in favor of an international legally binding instrument that will

regulate the trade of arms, as long as the instrument in question doesn’t interfere with our

right as a State to manufacture, transfer, export and import weapons. We have made great

efforts to apply the Joint Mechanism for Registering Buyers and Sellers of Firearms,

Ammunition, Explosives, and Related Materials. In addition, we participated in the

negotiations on initiating the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of

and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials which

was the first regional, legally binding instrument adopted in the field of small arms. Under

the Implementation Support System on PoA, we have created the Regional Public Security

Training Center, through which Brazil has been offering training courses for government

officials and civil society representatives directly involved in public security issues from

Latin American and Caribbean Countries. Armed Violence Prevention Program has been

implemented in Brazil which has the objective to reduce small arms demand and to promote

effective responses to armed violence. As the Federal Republic of Brazil, we are happy to

announce that we have made significant effort and gotten results in the field of arms trade.

Measures to promote security and disarmament while respecting the law of the sea

With a coastline of 7491 kilometers, Federal Republic of Brazil is greatly

concerned by all issues regarding maritime occurrences. Or coastline harbors a vast

ecological treasure and it is an important economical factor too due to its biodiversity and oil-

rich depths. Our government has signed and ratified UNCLOS in addition to the Fish Stock

agreement. The regime Brazil has been applying in its coasts has already been compatible

with the provisions of UNCLOS by the time we signed it. We show utmost respect to our

seas and it is a grave concern that our coastlines are plagued by pirates Our government has

been working to bring an end to this illegal act and we are ready to cooperate with other

countries in order to eradicate piracy.

Our government is also a firm believer of right to life, which is why we are of

course against all weapons of mass destruction. We have signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco

which is confirms that Brazil and its seas are nuclear free zones. Also, we have made

significant efforts in order to combat arms trafficking, not only on land, but also on our seas.

Federal Republic of Brazil supports every action taken to promote security and

disarmament on the seas.