Oxfam America withdraws from arms control in West Africa

Tag : west african
Dakar, Senegal - Less than two weeks to the third edition of theUnited Nations Biennial on small arms 14-18 July in New York, OxfamAmerica has ended its collaboration with the West African movementagainst small arms in the fight against the circulation of thesmall arms and light weapons (SALWs) in West Africa.

The announcement was made by the executive director of themovement, Georges Ndiaye, at a workshop on the June2007/June 2008review programme of its organisation, held on Wednesday in Dakar,Senegal.

Representatives of the Parliamentarians' Network against Landminesand SALWS, the National Commission against SALWs and the Senegaleseministry of Justice attended the workshop.

After a year-long collaboration with the movement in thesuppression of small arms and light weapons, advocacy for thedrafting of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and ratification of theECOWAS Convention, Oxfam is puling out for extractive industryfinancing, movement's deputy Executive Director, Khoudia Diop,said.

The programme review was aimed at making a critical assessment ofthe ATT advocay, weighing the strength and weaknesses and devisingways of setting up a new programme for a more efficient fightagainst SALWs in Senegal, the sub-region and the world.

Ndiaye described the outcome of the workshop as satisfactory.

The aim of the 2008 Biennial, to be attended by Senegal, is toexamine the implementation of the action programme in order toprevent, combat and eliminate the illicit trade of small arms inall aspects at the national, regional and global levels.

It will be an opportunity to set up a coordination organ in theUN's 192 member states as well as an information sharing network,in addition to promoting cooperation between the World CustomsOrganisation (WCO) and Interpol.

The National Commission against SALWs will meet on the latestpreparations for the Biennial 10-11 July in Dakar to adopt a jointreport for Senegal due to be submitted to the meeting.