So far, the nearest thing to a practical step was last November's agreement by the Organisation of American States to co-operate in clamping down on the export of illegal weapons.

ECONOMIST: Hey, anybody want a gun?

The draft calls for each country that ratifies the treaty to establish regulations for the export of ammunition "fired, launched or delivered" by the weapons covered by the convention.

NPR: Optimism In UN Over 1st Global Arms Trade Treaty

But if passed, they believe it will put pressure on countries involved in the export or transfer of arms to scrutinise more rigorously both the potential use of weapons and what the consequences of their use might be, such as breaches of human rights.

ECONOMIST: Regulating the arms trade: One more heave | The