民众能获得小武器和轻武器这种现象，对和平、稳定和进步构成越来越明显的威胁，并给社会造成严重影响。此类武器与武装暴力、有组织犯罪和发展不足之间存在联系，这一点已充分得到证明。这是我们所有人的问题，因此，必须通过全球性对策来加以解决。
The access of populations to small arms and light weapons poses an increasingly visible threat to peace, stability and progress and has devastating effects on societies. The links between such weapons and armed violence, organized crime and a lack of development has been fully demonstrated. It is a problem for us all and must therefore be addressed through global responses.