From December 2022, UNODA has been implementing a multi-year project that supports the full and effective implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). The project will run until December 2025 and is funded by the European Union.

The overriding objective of the project is to enhance international, regional and national peace and security and promote sustainable development through gender mainstreamed small arms and light weapons (SALW) control. This will be achieved through a cross-cutting three-pillar approach.

General Project Overview

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PROJECT PILLARS AND ACTIVITIES

All activities under the project will be implemented in close coordination with UNODA Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), and in close partnership with UNIDIR and IANSA.

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PILLAR I – Advancing global policies and commitments in the context of the Fourth United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the Implementation of the UN PoA in 2024 (RevCon4)

Four (4) Virtual Expert Meetings:

• Improving international cooperation and assistance in implementing the UN PoA
• New technologies and innovation – challenges and opportunities for the UN PoA and ITI
• Integrating SALW into national development processes
• Setting national and regional targets in implementing the UN PoA

Substantive and inclusive preparations for RevCon4 supporting governments and organizations from specific regions. Five (5) regional meetings:

• West and Central Africa
• East and Southern Africa
• Caribbean
• Latin America
• ASEAN and South Asian States.

Sponsorship Programme

To ensure inclusive and broad participation of States in the Fourth Review Conference, especially those most-affected by illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, the European Union issponsoring up to ten (10) participants to attend the two-week Conference taking place from 17-28 June 2024 in New York. The Sponsorship Programme is managed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and is open tocountries classified among Least Developed Countries by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, and those most affected by illicit small arms and light weapons.

Interested eligible Member States are invited to apply for sponsorship by sending an official letter or note verbale to the Office for Disarmament Affairs  (conventionalarms-unoda@un.org) no later than 15 March 2024, providing the full name, official title and passport copy of the nominated participant. Additional criteria for the selection of sponsored participants are regional representation and gender equity. Sponsorship will be provided to one person per country, and nominations are encouraged to be from a member of small arms national coordinating body, designated PoA national points of contact or an official directly involved in the national implementation of the Programme of Action.

Sponsorship Programme Flyer

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PILLAR II – Effective national and regional implementation of the UN PoA and ITI

Upgrade of the MOSAIC assessment tool

The upgraded tool based on the MOSAIC modules will enable States to carry out self-assessments on the implementation of the UN PoA/ITI. This activity will be implemented in close partnership with UNIDIR.

Support States to strengthen their implementation efforts of the UN PoA/ITI in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean.

This includes MOSAIC assessments and tailored assistance on the implementation of the PoA/ITI to selected states (Asia-Pacific and Africa), dedicated regional workshop focused on the role and tasks of national points of contact (Asia-Pacific), seminars/workshops in support of consolidation of a SALW roadmap for Central American States and virtual courses on Combating Trafficking in Arms and Ammunition and the Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition and Parts and Components for South and Central America (Latin America and the Caribbean).

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PILLAR III – Gender-responsive SALW control policies and programmes

Activities under this pillar will build on the outcomes of the previous EU-funded project supporting gender mainstreamed policies, programmes and actions in the fight against small arms trafficking and misuse, in line with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

Strengthen the small arms control component in the WPS agenda

This includes UNODA’s continued engagement in the WPS Focal Points Network to promote small arms control in WPS national action plans, strategies and implementation efforts.

Support to States to strengthen their capacity for gender-responsive small arms control policies and programmes in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean

Activities include a regional workshop on gender-mainstreaming small arms control for national commissions/PoA focal points and key stakeholders and a webinar series on integrating small arms control into wider gender equality, development and security efforts (Africa); a regional workshop on harmonizing the implementation of converging agendas on small arms control and gender equality and a regional seminar on the universalization of the ATT in the Asia-Pacific region and the convergence with the WPS agenda (Asia-Pacific); Training on gender-mainstreaming in small arms control in Central and South American States and a webinar series on SALW controls and gender in the lead up to the RevCon4 (Latin America and the Caribbean).

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OUR PROJECT PARTNERS

This project is funded by the European Union