SEESAC Takes Part in the Workshop on Strategic Approach to Control and Reduction of SALW

The illicit spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW), the lack of uniform SALW definitions and procedures, and the still prevalent ‘gun culture’ in the countries of the Western Balkans pose a serious threat and obstacle on the way to achieving effective control of SALW in the region. In an effort to address those issues, UNDP Montenegro and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro jointly organized a Workshop on a Strategic Approach to Control and Reduction of SALW in Budva, Montenegro (11 - 13 December 2013).

During the two-day event whose specific aim was to promote cooperation and exchange of best practices among the Western Balkans countries, representatives of governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo¹ had the opportunity to present their national strategies, discuss recent achievements and challenges, and pose questions of mutual interest.

Among the important topics raised were: the global commitments related to SALW control and recent developments in this area, the accomplishments and challenges of effective SALW control and reduction, and the development of new tools to assist governments and agencies in their day-to-day work through the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS).

SEESAC representatives presented segments of the international SALW control framework relevant to the Western Balkans and provided an overview of current and future SEESAC activities that will directly contribute to the enhancement of SALW control and regional cooperation in the period 2014 – 2016.

Particular attention was brought to the Regional Implementation Plan on Combating the Proliferation and Impact of Small Arms and Light Weapons that is in the centre of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) and SEESAC’s SALW-related activities.