DYB2011-Part-II-web

Regional disarmament
United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security
Questions in Central Africa
In 2011, the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on Security
Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) underwent changes in the management
and proceedings of its meetings. In May, in order to enhance synergies and
contribute to the activities of the newly established United Nations Regional
Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), the United Nations Secretary-General
approved the transfer of the secretariat functions of UNSAC from the United
Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to the Department of
Political Affairs, to be assumed by UNOCA.
During the first annual meeting of UNSAC in 2011 from 12 to 16 March
in Sao Tome, UNSAC member States adopted the Sao Tome Declaration on
a Central African Common Position on the Arms Trade Treaty, 21 prepared,
at their request, by UNREC in its capacity as Secretariat at the time. This
common position reflected a coordinated and harmonized approach of the
Central African States on the ATT negotiations to be finalized in 2012.
From 5 to 9 December, the second annual meeting of UNSAC took place
in Bangui, Central African Republic, under the auspices of UNOCA as it
assumed the secretariat functions for that body. During this meeting, member
States reviewed and discussed issues ranging from the security impact of
the illegal exploitation of natural resources to the fight against terrorism in
Central Africa. Initiated by the delegation of the Central African Republic,
the Committee adopted the Declaration on a Roadmap for the Fight Against
Terrorism and the Non-Proliferation of Weapons in Central Africa.
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and
Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
The activities of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace,
Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
(UNLIREC) to promote public security were focused on assisting States in
implementing disarmament and non-proliferation agreements and norms,
notably by bolstering their efforts to destroy surplus, obsolete and confiscated
weapons; enhancing the capacity of security sector personnel to combat illicit
firearms trafficking; and providing legal firearms assistance to State authorities
responsible for firearms control.
Within the framework of stockpile management and weapons destruction
activities of UNLIREC, Trinidad and Tobago and Ecuador made use of the
Centre’s new ammunition burning tank to destroy seven tons of ammunition.
The Caribbean States also used the UNLIREC standard operating procedures
to destroy 1,200 firearms. In addition, the Centre extended its stockpile
management and destruction training to representatives from Ecuador,
21 Available from http://unrec.org/docs/saotome.doc (accessed 14 June 2012).
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