July 17, 2008 | Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations, New York

The Hon. Ibrahim Sorie (Sierra Leone), PGA Executive Committee Member and Convenor of the PGA International Peace and Security Program, together with Mr. Nicolas de Riviere, Political Counselor of the French Permament Mission to the United Nations, welcomed and convened the meeting.

Hon. Sorie outlined the steps parliamentarians needed to accomplish in order to reduce small arms proliferation and trafficking. Hon. Sorie emphasized the importance for parliamentarians in conversing with one another to share challenges and similar experiences. By maximizing meeting time, initiating a forward-looking framework, convening regional meetings, ensuring cross-regional attendance at other meetings, encouraging the participation of civil societies and NGOs, and splitting the issues up into small topics, parliamentarians could begin to solve the problems of small arms and light weapons trafficking and proliferation.

Ms. Hannelore Hoppe, Director and Deputy to High Representative of Disarmament Affairs of the United Nations, assured the parliamentarians that the Secretary-General categorized this issue as one of highest importance. She also stressed the need for synergy between civil societies, peace missions, and government agencies when conquering the problems associated with small arms and light weapons. Ms. Hoppe classified a country's economic security as a telling factor in its effectiveness with controlling small arms and light weapons, but she also emphasized the importance of MPs putting this issue in front of their National Governments. She concluded by stating that MPs needed to look to National Legislation and to the work done by NGOs as the most beneficial areas where they could contribute and also in the context of End User Certificates.

Hon. Ali Bahari, MP (Kenya) noted that the role of Parliament in mitigation and security is to increase resource allocation to these areas, play a critical role in implementation process through conducting oversight. There is legislation on small arms but they legislation is scattered in different laws. Consolidation is critical. Minimum standards regarding manufacturing, transportation of weapons was all important. A Full Commission to deal with these matters is expected to be established by end of 2008.

Mr. Larry Bassie Director of Office of National Security of Sierra Leone highlighted the importance of awareness of communities, conducting national surveys, government strategies, regional, multi-lateral and bilateral partnerships. The1955 legislation was outdated and will not be able to meet today's needs. Draft legislation is currently being reviewed.

Hon. Saywah Dunah, MP and Senator Franklin Siakor of Liberia pointed out that there are issues of governance that give rise to small arms proliferation such as diamonds, forestry and other natural resources. So there is other legislation being developed to address this. There was a need for transparency of financing of these areas and more community participation to ensure rules are enforced so that people do not purchase weapons. The other issue in Liberia is that after a war, the sides change- civil society contains people who were fighting in the war and the new government contains people who were against war- the roles are reversed. So who are civil society and how do you reconcile? There is talk about engaging civil society but who are they? What are the interim steps to trust-building? The situation is more complex than may appear.

Mr. Eloi Urwodhi Uciba Wabiyik, National Coordinator of the LIPADHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) noted that inadequate SALW regulation greatly and adversely affects the Great Lakes region. SALW that are easy to obtain, economic development is prevented, there is looting, rape, the victims are mainly women and children. The states of the Sub-region have taken diverse initiatives to mitigate illegal trade. The Congolese Government, jointly with civil society employs intensive activities for peace and security. There is a vast campaign for collection and destruction of Light Weapons. 104,455 such weapons were collected by the NGO PAREK in W. Kitivu. There was a bike for weapons campaign and roof for weapons campaign (voluntary surrender campaigns). 5,000 LW were collected by Congolese National Police, a total of 116,921 weapons in which 93,395 have already been destroyed. Between 2005 and first quarter of 2008 165, 665 of ammunition in metric tons were destroyed. These operations have allowed child soldiers to return to their families and receive technical training to become drivers, masons, etc.

Governments have begun talks with various partners to strengthen efforts. In April 2004 12 countries in The Great Lakes and Horn of Africa signed the Nairobi Protocol. In Kigali in April 2005 the text on harmonization has been looked at more closely. The DRC has had difficulties in implementation. People want to use their war weapons as an asset when an opportunity arises. According to a specialist for every weapon that is surrendered, 1.5 are still hidden. They are even buried as tombs and in common graves and disguised with a cross. But now it seem appropriate to use compulsory methods and to include civil society and religious groups.

Hon. Kent Olsson, MP (Sweden) was disappointed that there was a lack of unity and agreement. Sweden gives 100s of millions of dollars to combat SALW. A coordinated response in the effort to collect and destroy small arms and light weapons that are in the possession of non-state actors needs to include the alignment of goals between donors such as Sweden and ministries and line departments in partner countries, rather than just among those responding in-country. This level of engagement is clearly needed in order for resources to be utilized effectively.

Hon. Lamin Thiam, MP (Senegal) observed that has porous borders. Senegal has become vulnerable to light weapons. Senegal has taken seriously the fight against weapons trafficking. Weapons surrender programs and reintegration of former combatants have both been successful and they are now able to enter into a period of sustainable development.

Peter Barcroft, Senior Program Officer with PGA, offered certain closing observations. He encouraged the participants to give careful thought to follow-up actions they could take, following the end of this Workshop. Ratification and implementation of regional SALW conventions and protocols was one obvious area. He also stated that a number of PGA Members, including some present at this Workshop had already played an important role in their respective countries, in particular vis-a-vis ratification of the ECOWAS Convention. He reminded the participants that donors ultimately expect to see tangible results or performance indicators arising out of Workshops of this kind and encouraged the participating MPs to stay in contact with him/PGA to keep the organization updated on steps/measures that they have subsequently undertaken. In summing up, he observed that saving lives is not confined to doctors, firemen, etc, but also to politicians. They may never meet those that they have saved with strong/progressive SALW legislation, but they have still performed this noble goal. Lastly, Mr. Barcroft drew the participants' attention to the PGA Weekly Small Arms and Light Weapons Update posted on the PGA website which is a helpful informational reference source for all those wishing to remain up to date on developments in this area.