management and security of stockpiles of salw including their ammunitions perspectives for enhanced...
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Management and Security of Stockpiles of SALW including their Ammunitions
Perspectives for enhanced
regional co-operation
===
ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop
14 December 2007
Perspectives for enhanced regional co-operation
International action on
Small Arms and Light Weapons
International Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons
UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
UN Firearms Protocol (2000)(came into force 2005)
(UNODC wanting to assist Regions and States in implementation. Problem is that Protocol does not
cover as wide a scope as the UN Programme of Action of 2001)
International Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons
Only two of the ten ASEAN Member States have ratified the UN Firearms Protocol (2000)
The other eight ASEAN Member States have neither signed nor ratified the protocol.
International Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons
UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light
Weapons in All Its Aspects
(UN PoA)(adopted by UN General Assembly in 2001)
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
UNPoA Regional
process process
National International
process process
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
UNPoA
process
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
UNPoA process
Biennial Meetings of States 2003, 2005
Review Conference 2006 (temporary impasse)
Biennial Meetings of States July 2008 ?
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
National Process
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
National Process
National Commissions/National Focal Points
National Action Plans
Implementation on National level(problematic)
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
Regional Process
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
Regional Process
Regional Agreements/Protocols
Regional Organisations(e.g. RECSA, ECOWAS)
Regional Implementation(making some progress)
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
International Process
UN Program of Action on SALW (UNGA 2001)
International Process
International Brokering AmmunitionInstrument on (GGE (GGE toMarking & reported in start work inTracing 2007; 2008)
(adopted 2005, follow-up
but will the system required) work?)
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Other International Processes
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Other International Processes
Arms Trade Geneva CanadianTreaty Declaration Inter-sessional(covers all on Armed in August 2007
conventional Violence and concentrated on
arms) Development international(UNSG received (measurable transfers of suggestions results by SALW for GGE. 2015) Composition and ToR of GGE to be decided.)
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Thematic Developments
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Thematic Developments
SALW and Armed Violence
SALW and Development (incl. OECD-DAC decision)
SALW and DDR
SALW and SSR (which includes stockpiling)
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Thematic Developments
These thematic developments mean SALW control is now more than just “implementing the UNPoA”.
Controlling SALW now needs a broader approach than just falling under “international organised crime”.
Possibilities for enhanced regional co-operation
Regional SALW co-operation can be:
based on Protocols officially agreed by governments e.g. ECOWAS Protocol for West Africaor Nairobi Protocol for East & Central Africa
supported by a special SALW secretariat in the regional office e.g. ECOWAS, or a special SALW office for the region e.g. RECSA in Nairobi.
Possibilities for enhanced regional co-operation
But regional SALW cooperation can also be:
supported by a special SALW secretariat or resource centre established in one country to give practical assistance to countries in the region
e.g. SEESAC in Serbia for South East Europe
Possibilities for enhanced regional co-operation
A Regional SALW secretariat could assist in:
Helping to draft legislation on SALW and Ammunition control, e.g. ensuring national laws are similar
Implementing the Instrument on Marking and Tracing
e.g. using common software for registering State-owned weapons in the region, as in Latin America; or sharing a machine to mark weapons, as organised by RECSA
Drawing up National Action Plans for SALW control
Possibilities for enhanced regional co-operation
A Regional SALW secretariat could assist in:
Stimulating increased border supervision to prevent illegal weapons trade
Sharing Public Awareness strategies to curb SALW
Drawing up national and regional reports on UNPoA to the UN, e.g. for the Biennial Review in July 2008
Drawing up national and regional project funding requests to curb SALW.
Possibilities for enhanced regional co-operation
A Regional SALW secretariat could assist in:
Drawing up Regional positions and stimulating discussion on international questions, e.g.
Brokering Ammunition Arms Trade Treaty Conforming to the UN Firearms Protocol (2000).
Conclusions (1)
* Following the adoption of the UN PoA in 2001, structures have been developed on international, regional and national levels.
* Additional thematic issues now aim not only at “limiting illegal trade”, but also linking SALW control to development, SSR etc.
* Most regions of the world have a regional SALW secretariat to support SALW control.
* There is no regional SALW secretariat for the South East Asia region.
Conclusions (2)
* A regional SALW secretariat does not have to be
formed by a joint decision of all governments.
* A regional secretariat can offer its services to those countries that wish to co-operate.
* A regional SALW secretariat can assist countries in improving SALW security and meeting their international obligations regarding SALW control.
Questions & discussion:
Perspectives for enhanced regional co-operation
Presented by:
David de Beer
Management and Security of Stockpiles ofSALW including their Ammunitions