This figure is on the increase. In the last forty years, the number of countries producing small arms has doubled. Small arms kill more civilians than any other type of weapon, yet still there are no binding international laws to stop these weapons falling into the hands of killers and human rights abusers.

Control is left to national governments. Unfortunately, more often than not, their legislation is pitifully inadequate and riddled with loopholes. And even if one country does refuse to supply arms to a particular buyer, there is little to prevent another supplier stepping in to seal the deal.