DYB2011-Part-II-web

Regional disarmament
Zambia. RECSA also provided support to the West African region to purchase
electronic marking machines for four pilot countries, 26 which will receive
training in arms marking. Support to West Africa was provided under a project
on Africa funded by the European Union and coordinated by RECSA.
In an effort to enhance stockpile management, RECSA made available
its customized software for electronic record keeping of data and information
on SALW.
RECSA supported Ethiopia, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania
to undertake arms destruction under a project funded by Japan. Support
was also provided to Eritrea in the destruction of unexploded ordnance with
funding from the European Union’s Dar-es-Salaam Office.
RECSA continued to disseminate its Best Practice Guidelines on Practical
Disarmament among its member States. The guidelines were developed with
funding from the Government of Japan to harmonize disarmament practices
in RECSA member States in order to facilitate cooperation in disarmament
exercises among these countries. Governments in the region and the RECSA
Council of Ministers endorsed the guidelines.
RECSA supported the following activities: the disarmament meetings of
the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to discuss strategies
for disarming pastoralist communities and negative forces; the official
launch of national action plans in Rwanda and Burundi; the finalization of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Action Plan, which was awaiting
presidential endorsement; and the review of the legislation of the United
Republic of Tanzania on SALW.
Two additional countries27 were admitted to RECSA during the year,
bringing the total number of its member States to 15.
Americas
Security and disarmament continued to occupy a dominant position in
the domestic and regional agendas of Latin American and Caribbean States.
Member States renewed their support in favour of various disarmament
and non-proliferation instruments and took collective action to promote
disarmament and reduce armed violence.
At the International Conference in Support of the Central American
Security Strategy held in Guatemala, Heads of State of Mexico and Colombia
identified the security strategy for the subregion, and expressed strong support
for regional disarmament activities. Small arms and light weapons (SALW)
control and armed violence reduction were at the centre of this security
strategy.
26 Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Togo and Ghana.
27 Central African Republic and the Republic of South Sudan.
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