As part of the UNRCPD led project on ‘Building Capacity of States in Southeast Asia to Prevent Diversion and Reduce Illicit Small Arms and Conventional Ammunition’ , the Seminar focused on:

1. Sharing effective practices and facilitating discussion among representatives from States of the region on current national and regional challenges on ammunition management;

2. Raising awareness on the dangers related to the accumulation of surplus ammunition stockpiles and its effect on illicit trafficking and diversion of ammunition, and addressing these challenges by utilising existing global framework for arms regulation including the ATT;

3. The reality and importance of looking at the illicit flows of ammunition from a gendered perspective, including how the outcomes of such flows disproportionately and uniquely affect women and youth, as well as identifying concrete measures in order to encourage the involvement of women in arms management, to contribute to achieving SDG’s target 5.2 to reduce all forms of violence against women and target 5.5 to increase the full and effective participation of women at all levels of decision making.