A recent joint CSOs and Nairobi Secretariat Meeting in Kampala was a great success. It developed a Communiqué reaffirming the important role of East Africa Action Network on Small Arms as the recognized representative of CSOs to work with the Nairobi Secretariat. The Nairobi Working Group of five regional faith-based organizations (APFO, NCA, AMECEA, FECCLAHA, Pax Christ) came on board as EAANSA members.
The regional meeting was a follow-up on the Second Ministerial Conference which took place in Nairobi from 20 - 21 April 2004. The Conference reiterated the important role that civil society organisations have played in support of the Nairobi Declaration, and mandated the Nairobi Secretariat to establish and support a sub-regional Civil Society Dialogue Forum for purposes of, among others:
- Inter-action and exchange of information between civil societies, National Focal Points and the Nairobi Secretariat;
- Coordination of civil society activities in support of the Nairobi Declaration;
- Providing training and support for civil society activities in support of the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration.
The objectives of Workshop were particularly to review:
- Progress of the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol.
- CSOs input in the proposal by the Government of Kenya to establish a "Committee of Experts" to draft an Agreement relating to the establishment of an inter-governmental entity - the Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA). The draft Agreement will be submitted to the 3rd Ministerial Meeting in 2005.
- CSOs assistance to signatory states in their preparations for the holding of the 3rd Ministerial Meeting in 2005 and for the UN Biennial Meeting of States in 2006.
COMMUNIQUE
Civil Society Organisations And The Nairobi Secretariat Workshop
We the Civil Society Organisations of the countries parties to the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol, gathered in Kampala, Uganda between 14th and 15th of October 2004 to define a common position with regard to the role of the civil society in the support for the Nairobi Secretariat,
RECOGNISING the importance of the Nairobi Declaration in addressing the devastating impact of small arms and light weapons on a swath of Africa ranging across the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa,
RECOGNISING FURTHER the important contribution of Civil Society Organisations, including Non-Governmental Organisations in inter alia, assisting governments to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects,
CONCERNED that the problem of small arms has been exacerbated by increasing number of armed conflicts, armed groups and arms trafficking,
NOTING that civil society organisations in the region are not homogeneous and have been participating in the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration independently without a common position and objective,
NOTING FURTHER that the role of the civil society organisations in the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration had not been clearly defined,
CONVINCED THAT the success of the Nairobi Declaration and Nairobi Protocol requires full participation and commitment of an organized civil society,
HAVING recognised the willingness of civil society organisations from member states of the Nairobi Declaration the Nairobi Protocol to form the sub-regional Civil Society Dialogue Forum and constructively participate in it.
1. DECIDE to mobilise our resources and launch an appeal to all relevant segments of the civil society of the countries that are party to the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol to work together and take our responsibilities for peace building and regional development
2. LAUNCH a special and strong appeal to the states parties to the Nairobi Protocol and Declaration to commit to their implementation and ratification in accordance with the set timelines
3. AFFIRM that in order to sustain and give impetus to the initiated dialogue within the civil society and across stakeholders groups, the Civil Society Dialogue Forum to be used as a common platform for exchanging views and building bridges between the civil society organisations and other stakeholders
4. AGREE that in order to facilitate the process of integration of the civil society in the Dialogue Forum for the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration, a sub regional civil society Forum (EAANSA) shall play a role as convenor of civil society
5. CALL on all the stakeholders, and in particular the political leaders of the countries of the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa, to approach the challenge facing the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration with an open spirit and positively engage with the established sub regional Civil Society Dialogue Forum
6. REAFFIRM our commitment and reiterate readiness to contribute to the success of the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol through the establishment of communication strategies to ensure consistent flow of information between the civil society and the Nairobi Secretariat.
Done at Kampala
15th October 2004
Africa Peace Forum
AMECEA
Catholic Justice &Peace Commission
Center for Conflict Resolution
Center for Peace and Economic Development
Church of Uganda-PDR
FECCLAHA
Hurepi-Trust
IFDA-Gaderes
IPPNW-Uganda
League ITEKA
Nairobi Secretariat on Small Arms
National Focal Point on Small Arms -Uganda
Norwegian Church Aid
Pax Christi
People With Disabilities Uganda
Rehabilitation & Development Organisation
Reseau D'action sur les Armes Legeres au sud Kivu
SaferAfrica
SaferRwanda
Security Research and Information Center
SOS-Peace Sudan Network Group
Uganda Joint Christian Council
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