Control Arms December 2016 Strategic Planning Workshop for Implementation of the ATT in East Africa and the Horn of Africa
Civil Society members from Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan arrived in Kenya on December 9, 2016 for an intensive planning session aimed at advancing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. It reviewed progress made in the past six month towards the Treaty’s universalization and implementation in the region, discussed challenges and solutions to these goals, and developed a campaign strategy to support the Treaty’s universalization. Particular regional challenges, such as wildlife poaching, pastoral conflicts, and the diversion of arms to terrorist groups were addressed in breakout sessions. The alarming humanitarian and human rights situation in South Sudan was of particular concern, and participants discussed ways to stem the flow of weapons into the country. Control Arms also engaged with potential new partners to strengthen the #ArmsFreeAfrica campaign.
The #ArmsFreeAfrica campaign, a signature focus for Control Arms in 2016, is intended to help reduce the damaging effects of violence caused by the poor regulation of arms transfers in Africa. Its goals are to raise the profile of the threat posed by armed violence, support further universalization and effective implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in Africa and raise the profile of African Control Arms coalition members. Building on Nigeria’s position as President of the second Conference of States Parties to the ATT (CSP2016), the #ArmsFreeAfrica campaign seeks to highlight the related problems of armed violence and chronic, cyclical conflict in Africa.
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