UNIDIR Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) Baseline Assessment in the Democratic Republic of Congo
On 2-5 August 2016, the National Commission for Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and Armed Violence Reduction (CNC-APLC) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), in cooperation with UNMAS, jointly organized a national WAM baseline assessment in Kinshasa, DRC. The baseline assessment gathered representatives of various national security agencies—including the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), the Congolese National Police (PNC) and the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN)—UNIDIR experts, UNMAS in the DRC, MONUSCO officials, and representatives of the civil society to undertake a comprehensive mapping of the different pillars comprising the national normative WAM architecture, and to review the current national practices and procedures relating to WAM, in support of the 2011–2016 DRC National Action Plan on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).The consultations focused on the WAM lifecycle, existing actors, processes, and resources, as well as areas where enhancements may be required in order to improve national regulatory frameworks, procedures and practices.
This activity is part of UNIDIR's research project on strengthening policies and frameworks for weapons and ammunition management on the national, regional and multilateral levels. The project seeks to promote knowledge among States, regional organizations and the United Nations system on ways to strengthen policy and practice governing the full lifecycle of weapon and ammunition to prevent their diversion and misuse. The baseline assessments are conducted upon request by the host government and are organized under the ownership and lead of the host Governments. They take the form of a national consultative process that facilitate dialogue and decision-making among all relevant national security stakeholders on WAM and related security issues.
UNIDIR
Palais des Nations, 1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 22 917 11 41
E-mail: unidir@un.org
Point of Contact: Himayu Shiotani, Head, Conventional Arms Programme
Phone: +41 22 917 2181
E-mail: himayu.shiotani@un.org