ECOWAS: Threat of weapons proliferation to democracy, stability in Africa

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has identified the proliferation of illicit weapons as a major threat to democracy, stability and peace in West Africa. At a workshop held Friday in Abuja, the regional body presented a report on the study of gender mainstreaming in peace and security architecture. ECOWAS (Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Component). According to the study, factors such as intra-state conflicts, electoral and political violence, terrorism and drug trafficking posed a serious threat to political stability in the African countries of the world. ;Where is.

The ECOWAS report, which identified the non-implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Program for Action Against Small Arms and Light Weapons, Porous Borders and Trafficking in Arms. Increased and uncontrolled weapons for the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons in West Africa, however, calls for urgent action to counter this threat. weapons have a variable impact on men, women, boys and girls. While men and boys constitute the majority of small arms users, women and girls are victims, especially during armed conflict

"A / Res / 65/69 United Nations General Assembly on Women, Disarmament, Arms Control stresses that the participation of men and women on the basis of equality and equity is crucial for peace and security "the report

. Security forces, especially civilians

have found that banditry in towns and villages is becoming more prevalent, creating a sense of insecurity among the population and justifying the use of 39, weapons by some communities to self-protect

. the challenges identified, the report recommended raising public awareness of the harmful effects of the misuse of small arms and light weapons and the need for "The uncontrolled proliferation of weapons, particularly small arms, has dramatic consequences. on the female bad, and therefore, with growing concerns in the countries of the subregion, the armed forces can not be left behind. to attack the phenomenon alone ", he adds