DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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ATT held in 2011. In addition, the Commission advocated for the adoption of
an AU common position leading to the approval by the governmental experts
from AU member States of a draft African Common Position on the ATT
during their meeting in Lomé from 26 to 30 September (see also pp. 131 and
132).
Economic Community of Central African States
In 2011, positive developments took place in Central Africa concerning
disarmament in general and SALW issues in particular.
In the context of the preparations for the negotiation of the upcoming
ATT, the members of the United Nations Standing Advisory Committee on
Security Questions in Central Africa adopted the Sao Tome Declaration on
a Central African Common Position on the Arms Trade Treaty during their
thirty-second ministerial meeting in Sao Tome from 12 to 16 March.
A subregional seminar for governmental experts, members of parliament
and civil society organizations in Central Africa was held in Brazzaville,
Congo, on the topic of the Kinshasa Convention, from 14 to 16 November.
The seminar aimed to raise awareness about the Convention among
participants, in order to contribute to its timely ratification, entry into force
and implementation in their respective countries.
Throughout 2011, the question of private security companies was
under scrutiny with the goal of publishing a “white book on private security
companies in Central Africa”. Following a workshop on research methodology
held in Libreville, Gabon, from 7 to 9 December, national experts were hired
and dispatched on fact-finding missions.
As part of his duties under paragraphs 3 (a) and (b) of article 29 of the
Kinshasa Convention, the Secretary-General of the Economic Community
of Central African States supported the work of the Central African Action
Network on Small Arms during its first General Assembly held in Bangui,
Central African Republic, from 30 November to 3 December.
Regional Centre on Small Arms
In 2011, the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) continued to
provide logistical and technical support to its member States in arms marking.
Various States were at different stages of marking their State-owned arms. For
example, Seychelles completed marking arms held by police and the military
while Burundi marked only 47 per cent of police firearms and only 6 out of
its 17 provinces completed the exercise. In Uganda, the police marked 90 per
cent of its arms while the military marked 40 per cent. The United Republic of
Tanzania started marking arms held legally by civilians.
RECSA trained law enforcement officers and the military in arms
marking in the Central African Republic, the Congo, South Sudan and