UNREC : Workshop to validate the Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Chad
Within the framework of the 'Physical Security and Stockpile Management Project' (PSSM) in the Sahel, UNREC organised a workshop to validate Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) in collaboration with the Chad National SALW Focal Point. The workshop was held on 24-27 October 2017 in N'Djamena and brought together more than 40 senior national officials (policy makers and technical experts). The meeting aimed at reviewing the SOPs and reflecting on the current security situation and concerns in Chad. The SOPs for the safe and secure management and stockpiling of small arms, light weapons and ammunition for use by the security sector are designed to help reduce the risk of diversion and illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and their ammunition. They are based on the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunitions Technical Guidelines (IATG), as well as on the standards adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The SOPs are expected to be adopted as Chad’s national standard operating procedures on physical security and stockpile management.
The Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) in Sahel Project is a regional project implemented by UNREC and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). It covers Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. Designated partners for the implementation of the project are the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the non-governmental organization Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the ISACS Inter-Agency Support Unit and Wilton Park. Through three years of funding, beneficiary countries are provided with support to reform their legal systems in order to align them with international standards and to achieve conformity with their obligations under different global and regional arms-control treaties and instruments. Countries are also provided with support to build their technical capacity to administer and operate arms security and management systems in accordance with internationally established norms and standards. These include training in the implementation of the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACSs) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs). A key feature of this project is the piloting of 18 model arms-stockage installations to be used as in-country reference points in training and development of similar installations. The PSSM in Sahel project is part of the support by the United Nations and the European Union to the security and stability in the Sahel and aims to support States in this region to prevent the diversion and the illicit trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), as well as their ammunition, by improving the physical security and management of national stockpiles.
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC)
B.P. 2705 Lomé – Togo
Phone: +228 (0)22 53 50 00
Fax: +228 (0)22 50 43 15
E-mail: mail@unrec.org
www.unrec.org
www.facebook.unrec.org
Point of Contact: Lewis Kamau KANYOKO, PSSM Project Coordinator
Phone: +228 (0)22 53 50 00
E-mail: mail@unrec.org