A/HRC/32/21 legislation and awareness-raising campaigns. In Montenegro, activities in the area of law enforcement as well keeping electronic records up to date contributed to more efficient performance in this sensitive field. 49. In this regard, States also responded that data were collected on the misuse of firearms,62 either through a registry of firearms63 or as part of the criminal justice system.64 Such data were used to monitor licensing,65 approve sanctions for illicit possession, and generate or monitor trends in rates of offending;66 they were also used to indicate how those trends informed national and local67 strategies to reduce and eradicate armed violence68 and for the purposes of investigation and prosecution69 as well as international and regional cooperation.70 50. While noting the positive impact of strict firearms control measures, some States indicated that the transnational challenges, such as the cross-border flows of small arms and light weapons and illegal acquisitions coming from conflicts in neighbouring countries,71 hampered national efforts.72 Other challenges that were identified included Internet sales of firearms and new technologies (see A/CONF.192/BMS/2014/1 and A/CONF.192/ BMS/2014/2). It was suggested that such transnational challenges required coordinated international action.73 IV. Conclusions and recommendations 51. The submissions received from States and other stakeholders and the observations of human rights bodies and mechanisms point to a correlation between civilian access to firearms, including lawfully acquired weapons, and levels of violence and insecurity, including in non-conflict settings. Firearm violence causes death, nonfatal physical injuries and psychological trauma, frequently leading to severe disability and an overall decline in a sense of public safety. Firearms-related injuries generate costs in terms of medical treatment, mental health services and criminal justice. There are also direct links between civilian access to firearms and violence against women and domestic violence more generally. 52. Firearms-related violence and insecurity therefore pose direct risks to the rights to life, security and physical integrity, and also affect other civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights such as the rights to health, education, an adequate standard of living and social security and the right to participate in cultural life (see A/54/2000, paras. 238-239 and E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/39, para. 16). Given the potential harm and devastating impact of the misuse of firearms on the enjoyment of human rights, public policies with respect to civilian access to firearms should be reviewed and formulated through a human rights lens. 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 Burkina Faso, Jamaica, Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Romania and the Philippines. Colombia, Paraguay and Peru. Estonia, Mauritius, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Mauritius. New Zealand. The United Kingdom, Madagascar and New Zealand. Burkina Faso. The Philippines, Honduras and El Salvador. Montenegro. Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso. The United Kingdom. 15