Info on Small Arms

1305-06 NEWS ON SMALL ARMS - May-June 2013

1301 AEFJN NEWS on SMALL ARMS – January 2013

1206 NEWS ON SMALL ARMS – JUNE 2012

1202 NEWS ON SMALL ARMS – FEBRUARY 2012

1201 - NEWS ON SMALL ARMS – JANUARY 2012

1110-09 Nouvelles sur les Armes légères - Septembre - Octobre 2011

1106 NEWS ON SMALL ARMS - June 2011

1109 African participation at the Third Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee

African participation at the Third Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee

1105 NEWS ON SMALL ARMS – May 2011

1104 NEWS on SMALL ARMS - April 2011

1103 NEWS on SMALL ARMS – March 2011

The selling of arms “kill” in the Arab countries

In most Arab countries where the revolts have taken place, security forces attacked unarmed demonstrators killing and injuring many. In Libya the government is using warplanes and tanks to bomb civilians. TV has shown security forces and civilians using Belgian guns. Most of those letal weapons come from Western countries that say to defend democracy.

NEWS of SMALL ARMS - February 2011

1102 Fight against the proliferation of small arms in Africa

RECSA is the Secretariat of the Nairobi Declaration that later became the Nairobi Protocol. It coordinates the joint effort by National Focal Points in the 14 Member States to prevent, combat and eradicate stockpiling and illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa. AEFJN maintains a communication with the RECSA Secretariat and supports its work.

1101 News on Small Arms – January 2010

NEWS on SMALL ARMS - November 2010

News on Small Arms - October 2010

Illicit small arms in Africa

Illicit arms find their way to different African regions under UN embargo.

Central African states agree to control small arms

Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe will sign the Kinshasa Convention, a legal instrument to fight the proliferation of small arms in the region.

1009 The limitations of European Union reports on arms exports

Since 1991–92, when the European Council adopted eight criteria against which EU member states agreed to assess their arms exports, there has been a concerted effort to develop harmonized arms export policies among EU member states.

A South African view of the arms trade

This year the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from jail. This is an occassion to reflect on how the arms trade has undermined the very institutions of democracy that Mandela and hundreds of thousands of others sacrificed so much to achieve.

100625 Continent’s guns to go silent

To mark 2010 as the year of peace and security the African Union has asked all guns in the continent to go silent on September 21, the International Peace Day. The AU Commission challenges everyone across the continent to be quiet for one minute and to reflect on peace between nations and non-violence in our homes, communities and schools in order to provide a very strong impetus to promote peace permanently.

International Coalition for the Decade

The International Coalition for the Decade calls for the celebration of the International Day of Peace on September 21st and the International Day of Non-Violence on October 2nd 2010. Two days to celebrate and observe peace. Celebrate these days by bearing the symbols of peace, and by participating in events.

100909 "A Million Minutes for Peace" Initiative

"A Million Minutes for Peace" campaign asks those around the world concerned with peace to pause and pray for peace for one minute, when clocks strike noon on the International Day of Peace (September 21). A quiet but worldwide phenomenon is expected.

100803 Seven countries which had used cluster munitions yet to endorse ban

The Convention on Cluster Munitions came into force on 1 August 2010, marking a major step towards ridding the world of the cluster bomb submunitions which can kill and maim decades after being unleashed. The following countries have used cluster munitions: Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Israel, Libya, Morocco, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Saudi Arabia, former Yugoslavia, Sudan, the UK and the USA.

News on Small Arms - July 2010

South Africa: Celebrating a Gun Free World Cup
	Despite concerns over South Africa's high rate of violent crime and gun violence there were few incidents during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a fact celebrated by the National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele. IANSA's 'Gun Free World Cup' campaign highlighted the importance of the gun ban in football stadiums for the duration of the tournament and raised awareness about the impact of gun violence. Now IANSA members are preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to build on the success enjoyed by South Africa. http://www.iansa.org
Uganda: Workshop on UN Security Council Resolution 1325
	In this 10th anniversary year of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and to mark the beginning of the African Women's Decade, IANSA Women in East Africa called for stronger support and commitment from their governments. On 12-13 July, women from 9 countries met to evaluate their states' implementation of Resolution 1325 at a conference organised by EASSI in Kampala, Uganda, and made links with small arms policy and control. Participants also reiterated the need to gender ongoing regional processes through an East African Protocol for Gender Equality. http://www.eassi.org
Sierra Leone: National Commission established
	After a 2 year process, and with significant input from civil society, Sierra Leone established a National Commission to control the illicit circulation of weapons in accordance with the ECOWAS small arms Convention on 1 July. Florella Hazeley of the Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA) said, "We are pleased that it is now an Act and that the Commission has the leverage to address issues on small arms and light weapons control". http://news.sl/drwebsite/publish/article_200515670.shtml
International: BBC documentary on brokering
	Amnesty International features in a BBC radio documentary which reveals how arms brokering and trafficking networks benefit from lax regulations of shell companies operating under UK jurisdiction.. As a result many have supplied weapons to crisis zones including to countries under an arms embargo such as Rwanda and Sudan. Amnesty stated, "Here is the evidence base about how the shadowy world of arms brokering works. These dealers fuel tremendous human suffering, which is the true price for lax oversight of this system. It is essential that current ATT negotiations include proposals to regulate arms brokers, traffickers and associated activities if the treaty is to help reduce human rights violations, conflict, poverty and armed violence". http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00szzq2#synopsis
SRIC director shot in Nairobi
	Last week Jan Kamenju, Director of SRIC (Security Research and Information Center), was shot and critically injured by unknown assailants on his way home in Nairobi, Kenya. He is currently in intensive care at the Armed Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi.
Debate in Mozambique on the role of an Arms trade Treaty
	In Mozambique, more than 70 people participated in a debate on 8 July about the role of an ATT to counter the impact of armed violence on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The debate 'Security & its role for social and economic development' was organised by the Mozambican Force for Crime Investigation and Social Reinsertion (FOMICRES).
Information from IANSA

100623 In Sierra Leone Parliament Ratifies Small Arms Act

100322 Gov't to crack down on arms trade in Northern Ghana

100329 Religious leaders call for strong Arms Trade Treaty

D.R. Congo to launch 'firearm for 50 dollars' campaign

100607 Somalia - Arms trade makes peace more difficult

100715 South Africa - Celebrating a Gun Free World Cup

News on Small arms and light weapons - June 2010

100607 Strategy to end use of child soldiers across Central Africa

News on Small Arms and Light Weapons - Mai 2010

SUDAN - Disarmament doubts in Lakes State

SUDAN - I can still buy more guns with my remaining cattle

SOUTH AFRICA - Gun-Free World Cup

A nationwide amnesty for gun owners in South Africa

South Africa has begun a nationwide amnesty for gun owners in an attempt to reduce armed violence in the country. From 11 January to 11 April anyone in possession of guns and ammunition will be able to hand them in at police stations.

Burundi Armed Violence Assessment

In 2008, more than 1,000 people were killed and nearly 1,300 injured by armed violence in Burundi, revealed 'Insecurity Is Also a War', a study by the Small Arms Survey on behalf of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence & Development. The report highlights priority areas for action, such as setting up a civilian disarmament programme and reducing the vulnerability of populations at risk.

West African treaty on gun violence becomes law

Rule of law in Eastern Africa

East Africa faces a number of threats from organized crime, including piracy, trafficking of weapons, drugs and persons, smuggling of migrants, and environmental crime. This has a serious impact on the health, security and development of the region.
A Regional Programme Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Security will be implemented.

Small arms Survey in Guinea Bissau

Guinea Bissau's NatCom successfully concluded its national small arms survey. It showed that weapons availability is linked to poor conditions of stockpile depots, drug trafficking, insecurity at the Senegal border and past wars and armed uprisings. For more news about small arms in West Africa, please read ECOSAP's latest newsletter.

ECOSAP (Ecowas small arms Control Program) Newsletter November 2009

Kenya, Government to mop out illegal firearms

The government will mop out all illegal firearms in the insecurity prone areas

US re-think on ATT welcomed

In a major policy reversal, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the US will support an Arms Trade Treaty at the UN.

Read more … US re-think on ATT welcomed

World unites to tackle global Arms Trade

After years of discussions and debates, the United Nations agreed a timetable to establish a 'strong and robust' Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the 'highest common standards' to control international transfers of conventional arms.

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