30 jun Regional High-Level Meeting Enhances Parliamentary Action for Sustainable Solution to Problem of Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons
The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PFSALW), the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) and the Parliament of Albania, organised a regional High Level Meeting in Tirana, Albania.
The meeting, titled ”Enhancing parliamentary awareness and action for more peaceful and sustainably developed societies – implementation of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans,” took place on 21-22 June 2023, gathering among others approximately 15 parliamentarians and six representatives of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Commissions from the Western Balkans. Results and lessons learned were shared, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary engagement in peace and security.
The high-level meeting aimed at increasing parliamentary commitment, understanding, and action on SALW control, regional and international frameworks, and the implementation of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap, fostering also their collaboration and knowledge exchange in these areas. A gender perspective was also integrated in the meeting’s programme, in line with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
Increased awareness by parliamentarians on the concrete commitments undertaken by the governments in the Western Balkans, in particular under the first Goal of the SALW control Roadmap “By 2023, ensure that arms control legislation is in place, fully harmonized with the EU regulatory framework and other related international obligations and standardized across the region” further contributes to the progress in achieving this goal, underpinning parliamentary action on the topic. It is also a concrete contribution towards improved and more effective legal frameworks related to misuse, trafficking and illegal possession of firearms in the region.
By organising this event, PFSALW, RCC, and SEESAC continue their multi-year efforts and actions directed at preventing and reducing armed violence and building more peaceful and sustainable societies in Southeast Europe and beyond.
The high level meeting is financially supported by PFSALW’s donor the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs’ (UNODA) Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation Fund (UNSCAR), as well as the European Union through its Council Decision 2022/2321, in support of the implementation of the Western Balkans Roadmap and with in-kind contributions from RCC and the Albanian Parliament.
The meeting benefited also from the knowledge and expertise of guest speakers from various organizations including UNODA, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EU’s DG HOME, Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat as well as representatives from civil society organizations.
Key messages from the distinguished guest speakers at their Opening Statements, include:
Mr. Bardhyl Kollçaku, Member of the Albanian Parliament and Member of the National Security Committee emphasized in particular SEESAC’s and donors support to Albania on SALW control and pointed out the measures that the Albanian Parliament has taken towards harmonization of legislation on weapons, civil use of explosives and pyrotechnics and approval of the new SALW control strategy, which is in line with the WB SALW Control Roadmap.
H.E. Ms. Elsa Håstad, Ambassador of Sweden to Albania shed light on the latest firearms violence cases in Sweden. The Ambassador pointed out that firearms are also used to perpetrate sexual and gender-based violence and that such violence is a global and generational issue. She concluded that as there is an ongoing war in Europe, war enables circulation of illegal weapons not only within the conflict zones but also outside them, even after the conflict.
Ms. Monica Merino, UNDP Resident Representative in Albania congratulated the authorities in the region for leading by example, with the Roadmap already being recognized as an example of good practice of regional approach to SALW control. It has influenced the development of the SALW Control Roadmap in the Caribbean and it influenced the content of the EU Action Plan on Firearms Trafficking. This represents a remarkable success of this region, she pointed out.
Mr. Alexis Hupin, Head of the Political Section at the EU Delegation to Albania underlined the importance of parliamentarians in the EU accession process of the region and expressed EU’s pride in supporting SALW control activities in the region. In particular, he highlighted the progress made by the region in terms of alignment with the EU acquis and establishment of Firearm Focal Points.
Mr. Amer Kapetanovic, Head of Political Department of the Regional Cooperation Council pointed out that the proliferation of illicit firearms is not only a regional problem but rather a global one, which requires actions of whole societies not only of experts. Mr. Kapetanović stressed RCC’s and SEESAC’s continuous support to the authorities in the region in tackling illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of firearms and applauded the SALW Commissions for their efforts.
Ms. Karin Olofsson, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PFSALW) pointed out that parliamentarians are vital actors in SALW control, translating international standards to the local implementation level, including on legislation. She highlighted the importance of a gender perspective in SALW control and peacebuilding, but also in the work of parliamentarians. She concluded by highlighting the importance of cooperation and knowledge exchange for contributing to more peaceful and sustainably developed societies.
———————-
The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PFSALW) is the only membership-based organisation gathering over 300 parliamentarians globally across party-political lines, specifically related to the prevention and reduction of SALW-related violence. The overall vision of PFSALW is to contribute to the achievement of more peaceful and sustainably developed societies, by enhancing parliamentary action for the prevention of SALW-related violence through the implementation and universalisation of relevant international frameworks. For more information, please follow us on our website: Parliamentaryforum.org, Facebook: @PFSALW, Twitter @ParlforumSALW, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pfsalw or contact us by email: Secretariat@parlforum.org.
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is an all-inclusive, regionally owned and led cooperation framework. The framework engages RCC participants from South East Europe (SEE), members of the international community and donors on subjects which are important and of interest to the SEE, with a view to promoting and advancing the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region. Within the framework of the general political guidelines set by the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the RCC works to develop and maintain a political climate of dialogue, reconciliation, tolerance and openness towards cooperation, with a view to enabling the implementation of regional programmes aimed at economic and social development to the benefit of the people in the region. For more information visit the website: www.rcc.int, Twitter: @RCCint, Facebook: @RegionalCooperationCouncil, Instagram: @regionalcooperationcouncil_rcc.
The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) works since 2002 to strengthen the capacities of national and regional stakeholders to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, advance gender equality, facilitate regional cooperation and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. For more information please follow us on our website: www.seesac.org, Facebook: @SEESAC, Twitter: @UNDP_SEESAC or contact us by email: seesac@undp.org.
Welcome to see all photos from the meeting here: https://rb.gy/2o936
