Engaging armed nonstate actors on small arms issues

  • Slides: 9
Download presentation
Engaging armed non-state actors on small arms issues? Nicolas Florquin, Geneva Call Armed Violence

Engaging armed non-state actors on small arms issues? Nicolas Florquin, Geneva Call Armed Violence COST Action A 25 Final Conference Brussels, 18 March 2008

Outline • Geneva Call • Why engagement of NSAs on small arms? • Possible

Outline • Geneva Call • Why engagement of NSAs on small arms? • Possible entry points

The Deed of Commitment on antipersonnel mines • Total ban on the use, production

The Deed of Commitment on antipersonnel mines • Total ban on the use, production and transfer of AP mines • Cooperation in mine action • Cooperation in monitoring, including field missions • Custodian: Republic and Canton of Geneva

Main achievements • 35 signatory groups in 10 countries • Monitoring and verification of

Main achievements • 35 signatory groups in 10 countries • Monitoring and verification of compliance • New mine action activities launched • Facilitation of State accession to and implementation of the Ottawa Convention

Side-effects • Entry point for dialogue on wider humanitarian & human rights issues •

Side-effects • Entry point for dialogue on wider humanitarian & human rights issues • Vehicle for weapons collection and destruction • Contribute to confidence-building among parties to a conflict

NSAs and small arms • The primary actors of contemporary armed conflict • Commit

NSAs and small arms • The primary actors of contemporary armed conflict • Commit IHL and HR violations using small arms • Obtain arms from a wide variety of sources • Can wage conflict with very few weapons

Existing approaches are coercive and not inclusive • Criminalisation/use of force • Transfer controls

Existing approaches are coercive and not inclusive • Criminalisation/use of force • Transfer controls • Arms embargoes • Naming and shaming

Potential entry points for engagement on small arms • IHL and HRL dissemination to

Potential entry points for engagement on small arms • IHL and HRL dissemination to NSAs • Promotion of safer stockpile management • Research

www. genevacall. org

www. genevacall. org