From handguns to fighter jets, the global trade in weapons is a massive and lucrative enterprise – but one that poses dire risks when arms flow into conflict zones or illicit markets. The international weapon market, both legal and illegal, fuels many of the world’s wars and atrocities; indeed, small arms alone (assault rifles, machine guns, and the like) are responsible for the vast majority of conflict-related civilian casualties . Despite the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty in 2014 to set common standards, worldwide arms transfers continue to rise, with the legal global arms trade estimated at at least $95 billion in 2017 (and growing since). This market ranges from huge corporate sales of advanced weapon systems between states, down to shadowy networks of smugglers moving AK-47s, ammunition, and explosives across borders. Weak regulations, loopholes, and geopolitical maneuvering often undermine effective oversight – for example, major powers sometimes continue selling weapons to regimes engaged in human rights abuses, prioritizing strategic interests or profit over principle. In this ECOSOC committee, delegates must confront how to strengthen monitoring and transparency in the arms trade: from improving tracking of weapons shipments and enforcing embargoes, to cooperation on stopping illicit arms flows that empower terrorists and militias. The goal is to find pragmatic ways the international community can curb the destabilizing spread of weaponry while respecting sovereign rights and the legitimate needs of self-defense.