The International Tracing Instrument (ITI) is a politically binding agreement adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005 to help states identify and trace illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW). Its full name is the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons. It was adopted by consensus through General Assembly resolution 60/81 on 8 December 2005, following negotiations by an Open-ended Working Group established the previous year.
The ITI is not a treaty. It is a political commitment, meaning states agree to implement it in good faith but it does not create legally binding obligations under international law. Despite this, it is one of the principal global frameworks complementing the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA) and is reviewed jointly with the PoA at Biennial Meetings of States (BMS) and Review Conferences held at UN Headquarters in New York.
The instrument has three core pillars:
- Marking: states commit to ensuring weapons are marked at manufacture and import with information sufficient to identify the country and manufacturer, plus a unique serial number.
- Record-keeping: manufacturing records should be kept indefinitely (at least 30 years), and other records — including import and export records — for at least 20 years.
- Cooperation in tracing: states agree to respond to tracing requests from other states within a reasonable timeframe and to designate national points of contact.
Implementation is supported by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and operationally by INTERPOL, whose iARMS database facilitates cross-border tracing. The ITI is frequently cited alongside the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty and the 2001 UN Firearms Protocol, though each instrument has a distinct legal status and scope. Civil society coalitions such as the International Action Network on Small Arms monitor compliance, and reporting gaps remain a persistent concern raised at successive review meetings.
Example
At the Third Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action in 2018, member states discussed gaps in ITI implementation, particularly weak marking and record-keeping practices reported by several African and Caribbean states.
Frequently asked questions
No. It is a politically binding commitment adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005, not a treaty, so it does not create legal obligations under international law.
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