RECSA Holds Regional Small Arms Brokering Meeting Back to back with UN meeting on UNPoA

RECSA hosted a regional seminar on small arms and light weapons (SALW) brokering in Kigali, Rwanda on 6th and 7th July 2009.

The meeting brought together representatives from UNREC, the African Union, RECSA Member States, inter-governmental organizations and civil society representatives from the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa, and Bordering States. The Seminar was officially opened by H.E Mussa Fazil Harerimana, the Rwanda Minister for Internal Security.

Participants discussed various issues on brokering of small arms and light weapons from national, regional and international perspectives, including challenges of enforcing brokering regulations, measures to counter illicit brokering, enforcement of relevant laws, among other topics. The meeting further revisited the provisions and regulations in the Nairobi Protocol and the best practice guidelines on the topic.

RECSA Member States got an opportunity to share their experiences in implementing small arms brokering best practices.

The ultimate goal of the seminar was to initiate regional dialogue and to open channels for cooperation between the various RECSA Member States in enhancing SALW brokering control measures.