OpenLegislation

Annex PROJECT ON EU ASSISTANCE TO ECOWAS

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

Objective of the project: conversion of the ECOWAS Moratorium on the Import, Export and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons into a legally binding regional Convention in December 2005, with a view to an operational West African contribution to the 2006 review conference on the United Nations Programme of Action.

Timetable and implementation of the project: presentation to ECOWAS Heads of State in December 2005 of a draft regional Convention on light weapons.

  • January-June 2005: evaluation of a legislative and regulatory system for small arms and light weapons in the 15 ECOWAS countries.

    • Use of expertise gained in this area by the Programme for Coordination and Assistance on Security and Development (PCASED March 1999 to November 2004) when establishing national commissions with the assistance of civil society.

    • Putting in place of an African expert responsible for evaluation, with expertise in small arms and light weapons in the ECOWAS area (from amongst PCASED personnel), under the control of the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS. One-week stay in each ECOWAS country in order to determine specific national approaches vis-à-vis the problem of light weapons.

    • Taking into account of experience in this area by other regional African organisations (South African Development Community (SADC) East Africa):

      • SADC Firearms Protocol (2001).

      • Nairobi coordinated agenda for action on the problem of the proliferation of light weapons (2004).

    • Preparatory meeting within the Light Weapons Unit of ECOWAS with a view to organising a seminar/negotiating session (Abuja). Presentation by the PCASED expert to the Light Weapons Unit of the results of the regional evaluation.

  • July-September 2005

    • Drawing up of the draft regional convention by the Light Weapons Unit.

    • Promotion of the draft convention to ECOWAS States by the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat.

  • October-November 2005

    • Organisation of a seminar/negotiating session in Abuja involving State representatives and national experts from the 15 ECOWAS States.

    • Finalisation of a draft regional Convention by the Light Weapons Unit.

  • December 2005

    • Presentation to ECOWAS Heads of State of the final draft Convention during an ordinary ECOWAS summit, and opening for adoption.