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

DdB.2@inter.NL.net

Management and Security of Stockpiles ofSALW including their Ammunitions