EU ATT Outreach Project II - Online Activity for Peru and Ecuador

05/10/2020
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06/10/2020
Activity description

On 5-6 October 2020, BAFA conducted an online activity for participants from Peru and Ecuador in the framework of the EU Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Project (EU ATT OP II), based on the EU Council Decision 2017/915/CFSP. 

The focus and contents of the activity had been developed in cooperation with long-term partner country Peru. Peru also proposed to invite participants from its neighbouring country Ecuador, which is not yet a signatory state of the ATT and had not participated to any former outreach activity in the framework of the ATT Outreach Project. In this way, the bilateral cooperation between Peru and Ecuador could be strengthened and the ATT could be promoted as an instrument to control arms trade to this non-signatory state.      

This Bi-national Online Workshop mainly focused on the challenge to prevent and combat illicit arms trade across borders. Approximately 75 Peruvian state officials and 30 Ecuadorian state officials from relevant authorities attended the Binational Online Workshop, with a total of 105 representatives in general.

The first day of the workshop kicked off with welcome remarks by representatives of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility and the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first presentation of the day introduced the participants to the classification and typology of conventional arms and ammunition, according to the eight categories of the ATT. The second presentation provided an overview of the architecture of international and regional instruments for the control of conventional arms, firearms and ammunition in the Andean region, including the ATT as the newest instrument.

On the second day of the workshop, the first session highlighted the relevance of the ATT  for the Latin American region and explained its objectives and obligations as a binding Treaty to the Ecuadorians participants, as Ecuador is not yet a signatory party. The last session addressed the prevention of illicit arms trade and diversion, which is a central challenge in the bordering zones between Peru and Ecuador. It was jointly provided by two experts and included case studies, instruments and good practices from the Latin American region. Each session was followed by a questions and answers session.

The activity was supported by three experts in the field of export controls from Peru, Colombia, and Costa Rica and organised by the implementing entity BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control), Germany.

Project description

The goal of 'EU ATT Outreach Project (EU ATT-OP)', as part of the European Union Partner-to-Partner (EUP2P) Export Control Programme, is to support the effective implementation of the ATT. Upon request, the project will support a number of States in strengthening their arms transfer control systems with a view to being able to implement the ATT. The project also aims to increase awareness and ownership of the ATT at national and regional levels and therein contribute to its universalisation. A second edition of the project was initiated on 29 May 2017 by Council Decision 2017/915 and it is co-implemented by BAFA and Expertise France.The EU ATT Outreach Project has three different components: 1) Tailored National Assistance Programmes; 2) Ad-hoc Activities; and 3) Regional Seminars. National assistance programmes are developed in close cooperation with partner countries. Key elements of national assistance programmes are: an initial needs assessment visit; inclusive roadmap development; and, practical support follow up activities.

Type of Activity
Sensitization and outreach
Focus of Activity
Ammunition
Border controls
Control list
Diversion
International instruments
Regional cooperation
Regional instruments
Small arms and light weapons (SALW) controls
Transfer controls
Partners
Ecuador
Peru
Implementers
German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA)
Donors
European Union (EU)
Contact Details
Organization
Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) Division 225
Address
Frankfurter Str. 29-35, 65760 Eschborn, Germany
Phone
+49 6196 908 - 2602
Fax
+49 6196 908 11 - 2602