SEESAC Supports the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republic of Moldova in developing a new strategic approach for the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition

SEESAC is supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republic of Moldova in developemnt of a National Programme on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) for 2026–2030. A two-day workshop was organized on 6–7 May 2025 in Chișinău to initiate the process.

The workshop gathered members of the SALW Commission — the national coordinating body for SALW control — which encompasses key representatives from relevant institutions, including law enforcement, justice, defense, customs, and information technology agencies. Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Alexandru Bejan, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Mrs. Corina Mocanu Bonnin, First Secretary of the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova, who underlined the importance of a coordinated and strategic response to the threats posed by SALW.

Across eight working sessions, participants engaged in detailed discussions to define the programme’s goals and develop content for each of the Programme’s key components. These included legislative and regulatory reform, evidence-based and gender-responsive policymaking, countering illicit possession and trafficking, prevention through awareness-raising, and stockpile management.

The workshop also served to enhance inter-institutional coordination, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and identify the technical, financial, and capacity-building support required for effective implementation. A follow-up workshop is planned to further advance the drafting process of both programme and its action plan.

This initiative represents an important step toward the adoption of a comprehensive, forward-looking SALW control strategic framework in Moldova — one that is aligned with international standards and informed by regional good practices, including those promoted through the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap.