Mr. Chairman - All other protocols observed.

I would like to begin today by congratulating the Network Partners for their positive action in coming together to address the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in our society. This action is an indication of the growing awareness throughout the world that the complex problems associated with the illicit trade and excessive stock piling of small arms can only be solved by collaborative efforts at literally every level of society.

The problems of the trade in small arms and light weapons have certain characteristics that are unique to individual states and /or regions but are undeniably global in scope. This global scope is particularly evident in the activities of organized crimes and terrorist and in the global effects of these activities upon human security everywhere.

The July 2001 UN Conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and its concluding program of action has provided us with a new phase in efforts to combat the problems associated with the proliferation of small arms. The Conference was the first time that the UN had organized a global conference on small arms. This conference turned the world attention to a problem that was being swept under the carpet Africa, though, had taken the lead with the Bamako Declaration and ECOWAS Moratorium on Small Arms.

The success of the UN meeting was the adoption of the Program of Action to address one of the most pressing threats to human security and the creation of a global process. The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan once said "there is no single tool for conflict so widespread, so easily available and so difficult to restrict as small arms". Small arms have
aggravated violence with terrorism and organized crimes. Small arms are simple to use and light to carry, reducing the barriers for violence and terror. Small arms interfere with peace keeping missions because they increase the possibilities of outbreak of conflicts in areas of crisis, endanger the safety of both international and peacekeepers and the local
population and hinder conflict resolution. They severely hamper economic development.

Small arms pose major public health, problems resulting in deaths, injuries and the psychological scars that come from experiencing fear and trauma. Small arms kill at least 500,000 people every year and injure many times more. Small arms injuries over burden medical infrastructures and shootings disrupt health services. They fuel conflicts that result in forced migration, infectious disease and psychological trauma. Small arms deeply affect women because they have been deliberately targeted by forces that abuse women's rights.

They are often the victims of rape and other sexual abuse and violence as well as abduction and forced slavery. From Sudan to Sierra Leone women as young as ten years have been abducted at gunpoint from their homes.

Small arms negatively impact the lives of children because they are used to kill and injure them. Small arms proliferation often results in massive population displacement, disrupting many elements of children's development process. The presence of small arms may prevent schools from opening or operating and may leave teachers unable to carry out their responsibilities, limiting children's educational opportunities.

We in Sierra Leone have had our share of the problems, which small arms can create for countries and their people. Throughout our near eleven years rebel war, the use of small arms caused gross human rights violations and unimaginable atrocities, which have left scars which will take years to heal. The victims - the child combatants, amputees and
sexually abused would be languishing in society but for the intervention of international humanitarian organisations and government efforts.

It is pertinent to note that here that our existing laws relating to small arms are limited in scope, in some aspects out of date and deficient as a legal tool for dealing with the problems posed by small arms and light weapons. The present legislation was formulated in a relatively peaceful environment and perhaps without sufficient regard to
modern advances in technology. Let me say that Government is now in the process of reviewing the existing laws and will soon put forward legislation that will adequately and effectively address matters dealing with the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, acquisition, possession, handling, trading, trafficking or dealing in small arms and light
weapons and ammunition.

I note the importance between the implementation of the Program of Action at the global level and other regional, sub-regional and national activities. Each country, each region and sub region has its own priorities in terms of implementing its commitment on small arms. It
therefore makes sense to engage in networking and coalition building at national level while at the same time encouraging partnership and coordination cross-regional basis.

This public concern helps to explain why all regional and sub-regional initiatives throughout Africa have recognised the invaluable role of civil society in helping governments to address small arms threat. The issue of peace and security and its implications must be considered within the framework of NEPAD -(New Partnership for Africa's Development) to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development throughout Africa.

This is why, today we have all come together to celebrate the formal launching of the Network SLANSA continued constructive engagement of civil society and other experts is crucial to the implementation of the program of action. The complexity of the small arms problem require ingenuity and determination to solve it. Governments cannot solve them
alone. 

We look forward to a strong partnership with SLANSA in taking action on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. On that note I have the pleasure to formally declare SLANSA launched as an implementing mechanism of the UN Program of Action on small arms and light weapons.

I wish you success!