Nairobi is set to host a crucial
gathering of Eastern and Southern African countries to review progress made and set priorities for preventing, combatting and eradicating the scourge of illicit small arms and light weapons.
The Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Fourth Review Conference on the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) and its International Tracing Instrument (ITI) is set
to take place from 4 to 5 March 2024.
Speaking during a meeting held in Nairobi kenyan interior coordination permanent secretary Dr Raymond Omolo has revealed the meeting will see high-level attendance by the President Designate of the Fourth Review Conference, Ambassador Maritza Chan Valverde of Costa Rica, as well as Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.It will be attended by
delegations from over 26 countries from the Eastern and Southern Africa region, and regional
and sub-regional organizations such as the African Union, the Economic Community of East
African Community (ECA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC.
The widespread availability and illicit proliferation of SALW serve as key drivers and enablers of
armed conflicts, violent extremism, and the expansion of terrorism, among other sources of
violence and insecurity. Small arms control measures have proven themselves to be effective
tools to disrupt the supply of illicit SALW to terrorist and criminal groups.Adequate small arms control is a crucial means of reducing armed violence, preventing conflict and building peaceful and inclusive societies.
According to Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs.UN PoA, adopted in 2001 is politically binding framework which contains
commitments by Member States to enhance control measures over small arms.
