DYB2011-Part-II-web

Conventional weapons issues
Through regular policy dialogue and information exchange, CASA also
advanced collaboration externally with other intergovernmental and regional
organizations. Recent efforts through CASA achieved mutually aligned and
consistent reporting templates for the United Nations and the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe with regard to their respective small
arms instruments.
Group of Interested States in Practical Disarmament Measures
Since its inception in the document entitled “An agenda for peace ”14
and its supplement, 15 the concept of practical disarmament measures was
developed to fill the gap between the traditional multilateral negotiations on
disarmament and the actual needs of States affected by conflict and the often
poorly controlled spread of small arms. The informal Group of Interested
States in Practical Disarmament Measures (GIS) was established as an open
forum to assist affected States in their efforts to maintain and consolidate
peace and security. GIS particularly advocates action-oriented practical
approaches, including the control of SALW, demining, and demobilization
and reintegration of former combatants. 16
In 2011, GIS continued to function as a clearing house for the matching
of assistance needs and available resources in the implementation of the
Programme of Action on small arms. In cooperation with GIS, the Secretariat
updated and presented a compilation document of assistance proposals17 on
the occasion of the Open-ended Meeting of Governmental Experts in May and
following GIS meetings. These proposals were formulated based on national
needs and requests for assistance as identified by affected States in their
2010 national reports on the Programme of Action. Two cardinal principles
underlying the compilation were that all the proposals must originate from
and be endorsed by national authorities, in order to ensure the right ownership
of envisaged activities, and that GIS and the Secretariat only functioned as
brokers: when a donor and an implementing agency were connected, the
project moved to the field. These assistance efforts resulted in a number of
projects being funded or negotiated.
Participating States also agreed that the GIS should serve as a forum
for information sharing to promote policy dialogue on relevant issues. In
this connection, it facilitated the exchange of views related to the United
Nations small arms process; the link between small arms issues, conflict
prevention and an arms trade treaty; and the partnership between disarmament
communities based in New York and Geneva.
14 A/47/277-S/24111.
15 A/50/60-S/1995/1.
16 See General Assembly resolution 51/45 N of 10 December 1996.
17 “Matching Needs and Resources: Updated May 2011”. Available from http://www.poa-iss.org/
InternationalAssistance/AssistanceProposals-MGE2011.pdf (accessed 2 June 2012).
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