The Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, in collaboration with the NISAT Coalition, is holding an expert seminar on “Integrating Development Component into the UN Program of Action Process”. Launched in 2001, the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms And Light Weapons in All its Aspects(UNPoA) states that “the challenge posed by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects is multi-faceted and involves, inter alia, security, conflict prevention and resolution, crime prevention, humanitarian, health and development dimensions”. However, development issues are seldom directly referred to in recommendations found in the main body of the Programme. Consequently, during a Preparatory Committee in January 2006, a large number of countries and organisations highlighted the need to integrate and consolidate the development component of the UN PoA process. The Oslo expert seminar aims to meet this need by bringing together over 50 international experts, practitioners and government personnel from 20 different countries in order to elaborate concrete proposals on how to address the negative impact of small arms proliferation and violence on development. The main outcome of the expert seminar will be a consolidated list of recommendations that could be included in the outcome document of the 5-years Review Conference of the UN PoA in June/July 2006, in New York. Furthermore, the seminar will allow a fruitful exchange of ideas which will strengthen policy discussions taking place at the international level through presenting insights from community-based work accomplished by development organisations in the field, personnel from a variety of governments and international organisations, and action orientated research on small arms.
For further information about the expert seminar please contact the coordinator: Anne Thurin, anne@prio.no
