Report of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) Control Arms Campaign during the ECOWAS Heads of State / Ministers Summit in Niamey
Niger Republic
8 – 12 January 2006.
Took place between 8-12 January 2006. While the Ministers meeting took place on 8-9, the Heads of State Summit was held on 12 January. WAANSA mobilised network members from various countries notably Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal to Niamey for the campaign.
WAANSA members were in Niamey not only to make our presence felt but also get our governments to support the process of transforming the ECOWAS Moratorium into a Convention after the summit and to support the call for the adoption of the global Arms Trade Treaty principles.
The main campaign message was the call on the Heads of State to honour the life of the late Chiek Ouma Diarra, Deputy Executive Secretary (Political affairs, defence and security) of ECOWAS General Secretariat who died working for a gun-free West Africa by supporting the Arms Trade Treaty, and finalising the process that he started with us on an ECOWAS Convention.
WAANSA activities in Niamey:
1. Press Conference
2. Advertising space in the most popular newspaper calling for support for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the ECOWAS Convention.
3. Distribution of banners and posters around the airport and the Conference Centre
4. Distribution of message-bearing balloons
5. Collection of petitions for ATT and ECOWAS Convention
6. Meeting with the Ministers and delegates to the summit
7. Meeting with the Minister of Regional Integration of Niger
8. Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger.
A highlight of the campaign was the displaying of placards and posted campaign posters around the venue of the Heads of State meeting. |
