As part of the conferences on implementing the 'Geneva Declaration', a regional two day conference took place in Rabat in Morocco on 28-29 October 2014 under the theme "Ending armed violence for Peace and Development". It addressed armed violence and development in the MENA-region and raised awareness for those issues. The conference addressed in particular strategies and means to prevent and reduce armed violence, reinforcement of regional and inter-regional cooperation to prevent armed violence, border security in the Sahel-region and the Arab Maghreb Union, control of illegal trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW), prevention of transnational organized crime through promotion of regional and international aid, peacebuilding in post-conflict situations, the role of young people and women in reducing armed violence, achieving development goals by reducing armed violence. Officials from several other countries, as well as international and regional organizations, NGOs and think tanks participated in the conference.