CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP ON UN PROGRAMME OF ACTION ON ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS HELD IN TUNIS

CAPACITY-BUILDING WORKSHOP ON UN PROGRAMME OF ACTION

ON ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS HELD IN TUNIS

NEW YORK, 28 June (Department for Disarmament Affairs) -- On 14 and 15 June, the United Nations conducted a workshop on the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) in Salambô, Tunisia, organized by the Department for Disarmament Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and hosted by the Government of Tunisia.  In addition to representatives of the host country, participants represented the four other States of the Maghreb:  Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco, as well as the Secretariat of the League of Arab States.  Representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and several civil society organizations participated as facilitators and trainers.

The workshop was designed as a capacity-building exercise to orient government and regional organizations in the prompt and full implementation of the provisions of the PoA.  The subregional workshop thus examined in detail the national reports submitted to date by countries of the subregion on their implementation of the Programme.

Discussions reaffirmed the multidimensional nature of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the adverse impact of such trade on regional security.  Participants agreed that no State could fight the problem alone, regardless of its capacity or the number of national measures in place.  It was recognized that no State would be totally secure until all States in the region took adequate steps to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.

In order to strengthen regional dialogue on the issue and enhance future subregional and regional cooperation, participants shared experiences and lessons learnt.  The positive value of partnership and synergies was highlighted as a way to increase the effectiveness of State action in this field.  Examined in this context was the establishment of national focal points and national coordinating agencies, the development of national plans of action, with the assistance of international and regional organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations.  Participants also concluded that these activities would also improve governments’ internal coordination mechanisms.  The designation of a regional focal point inside the organization of the League of Arab States was noted with satisfaction by all participants.

All participants welcomed the contribution of the workshop to the efforts currently under way in the Arab region.  They also appreciated the stimulus it provided for the preparation of the forthcoming 2005 Biennial Meeting of States, as well as of the 2006 International Conference to review the PoA.

For further information, contact:  Agnès Marcaillou, Chief, Regional Disarmament Branch, Department for Disarmament Affairs, e-mail: marcaillou@un.org, tel: 1-212-963-3768

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