Disarmament can play an important role in ending existing conflicts and preventing the outbreak of new strife. Disarmament and arms control processes provide the breathing space for confidence to be built, stability to be strengthened and trust to be established. 
The UNREC Focus is the newsletter of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC). It covers news, projects, events, and publications related to UNREC’s activities. UNREC Focus N°34" is available for download as a PDF file: UNREC Focus 34 Newsletter Archive Click on the link below to subscribe to our newletter www.unrec.org/default/index.php/en/newsletter-signup
PRESS RELEASE: Fissile material is a key component in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. Therefore, a non-discriminatory, multilateral and international treaty banning the production of fissile material would represent a practical and significant contribution to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. As part of its strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the European Union and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), through…
On 22-23 January 2019 in lomé, togo, UNREC hosted a high-level Partnership Meeting with the Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA). The delegation from RECSA was led by the Executive Secretary Lt.Gen. Badreldin Elamin Abdelgadir. The focus of the meeting was to revitalize the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNREC and RECSA in 2009 and to agree on a…
Le Gouvernement togolais, en collaboration avec l’Organisation mondiale des douanes, le Comité 1540 et le Centre régional des Nation Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), organise un atelier de renforcement des capacités des acteurs impliqués dans la mise en œuvre de la Résolution 1540 (2004) du Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies. L’atelier se tiendra au siège de l’UNREC du 23 au 25 janvier 2019. Placé sous le…
The joint project to support the implementation of the Central African Convention for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, their ammunition and all Parts and Components that can be used for their Manufacture, Repair and Assembly, known as the Kinshasa Convention, was launched by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and the United Nations…
The Arms Trade Treaty is an invaluable tool to promote cooperation, transparency and responsible action by States Parties in the arms trade. It also aims to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion to unauthorized users. It is noted that the arms trade often goes hand in hand with their diversion, their widespread and uncontrolled availability, and their illicit traffic. In light of this, the…
Le Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC) organise du 20 au 22 novembre 2018 à Dakar, au Sénégal, à l’hôtel Radisson Blu Sea Plaza, une conférence régionale d’évaluation des activités d’appui à la sécurité physique et à la gestion des stocks (PSSM) d’armements et de leurs munitions visant à lutter contre le détournement et le trafic illicite d'armes légères et de petit…
The UNREC Focus is the newsletter of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC). It covers news, projects, events, and publications related to UNREC’s activities. UNREC Focus N°33" is available for download as a PDF file: UNREC Focus 33 Newsletter Archive Click on the link below to subscribe to our newletter www.unrec.org/default/index.php/en/newsletter-signup
The present report contains an account of the activities undertaken by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa from July 2017 to June 2018.During the reporting period, the Regional Centre continued to assist Member States, at their request, and intergovernmental and civil society organizations in Africa to promote peace, security, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. Click here to download the Report Related Documents Database of the reports of…
From 6 – 7 September, Libreville, Gabon, a working session was organized with the staff of UNOCA and ECCAS led respectively by SRSG François Louceny Fall, ECCAS Secretary General Ahmad ALLAM-MI and director Anselme Yabouri. This tripartite ECCAS-UNOCA-UNREC meeting paved the way for collaboration between UNREC and the Secretariat of ECCAS in the implementation of the project ‘Supporting the implementation of the Kinshasa Convention’. The project aims to support Central African…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) Organized in the framework of the PSSM Project in the Sahel Region, implemented by UNODA through UNREC,a workshop on experimental technologies in Physical Security and Stockpile in Bamako, from 22 to 26 January 2018. The purpose of the workshop was to establish a long-term roadmap on the use of new technologies to reduce the risk of diversion from…
The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) and its International Tracing Instrument(ITI) remain the global framework for coordinated efforts to combat the scourge of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. From 18 to 29 of June 2018, States will come together in New York for the Third Review Conference (RevCon3)…
From 4 to 6 July 2018, for her first trip to Africa as Under-Secretary-General and High-Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu traveled to Togo and visited the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) – the operational arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) that covers 54 Member States in the region. Following the recent launch of the Secretary-General’s disarmament agenda for the…
The UNREC Focus is the newsletter of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC). It covers news, projects, events, and publications related to UNREC’s activities. UNREC Focus N°32, is available for download as a PDF file: UNREC Focus 32 Newsletter Archive Click on the link below to subscribe to our newletter www.unrec.org/default/index.php/en/newsletter-signup
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in collaboration with the Government of Burkina Faso, through Burkina Faso’s National Commission for the Fight against the Proliferation of Small Arms (CNLPAL), organized a training-of-trainers workshop on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) of weapons and ammunition, in Ouagadougou, from 26 to 30 March 2018. The workshop trained officials directly involved in…
Fissile material is a key component in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. As such, a non-discriminatory, multilateral treaty banning the production of fissile material would represent a significant practical contribution to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. In this context, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) through its regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) is organizing a workshop with the financial support of the Government of…
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) are furthering their cooperation to improve weapons and ammunition management in the context of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes. Based on their jointly developed handbook, they are developing a training course for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) practitioners on weapons and ammunition management based on the highest existing international standards and guidelines, namely the International Small…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in collaboration with the Government of Mali, through Mali’s National Commission for the Fight against the Proliferation of Small Arms (CNLPAL), organized a training-of-trainers workshop on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) of weapons and ammunition, in Bamako, from 22 to 26 January 2018. The workshop trained officials directly involved in the management…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa organized a capacity building workshop aimed at supporting gender perspectives in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control processes in the Lake Chad basin from 18 to 20 of December in Lomé, Togo. The workshop is part of the project entitled, “Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives in Preventing the Acquisition of Arms and Ammunitions by Terrorists Groups in the Lake Chad Basin”, and is funded by…
PRESS RELEASE UNREC is organizing a capacity building workshop for civil society actors from Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria for an effective mainstreaming of gender perspectives in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control processes in the Lake Chad region. The workshop will be held from 18 to 20 December 2017 at l’hôtel Sarakawa in Lomé, Togo, and will gather participants from civil society organizations as well as a government representative from each of…
PRESS RELEASE The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in collaboration with the Nigerian national authorities, is organizing a series of workshops on "Validation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Administrative Procedures". The activities will be held from 12 to 15 December 2017 at the Chelsea Hotel of Abuja. These workshops are part of the project "Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM)" in the Sahel region financed…
The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) organized two workshops to support the process of marking arms in the Lake Chad Basin Countries and prevent their diversion to terrorist groups, namely a sub-regional workshop on 6 to 7 November 2017 in N'Djamena, Chad, and a national workshop from 9 to 10 November 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria. During these workshops, governments and civil society experts from Cameroon…
The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) has developed a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safe and secure management and stockpiling of small arms, light weapons and ammunition for use by the security sector in of Chad. These SOPs were developed within the framework of the UNREC-led Physical Security and Stockpile Management –PSSM Sahel project are designed to help reduce the risk…
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE Le Centre Régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), en collaboration avec les autorités nationales tchadiennes, organise une série d’ateliers sur le thème : « Validation des Procédures standards opérationnelles (SOP) et procédures administratives ». Les activités se dérouleront du 24 au 27 octobre 2017 à l’Hôtel NOVOTEL la Tchadienne d’N’Djamena. Ces ateliers s’inscrivent dans le cadre du projet « Sécurité physique…
The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) has developed a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the safe and secure management and stockpiling of small arms, light weapons and ammunition for use by the security sector in of Burkina Faso. These SOPs were developed within the framework of the UNREC-led Physical Security and Stockpile Management –PSSM Sahel project are designed to help reduce the…
The UNREC Focus is the newsletter of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC). It covers news, projects, events, and publications related to UNREC’s activities. UNREC Focus N°30, is available for download as a PDF file: English French Newsletter Archive Click on the link below to subscribe to our newletter https://www.unrec.org/default/index.php/en/newsletter-signup/
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs appoints Mr. Anselme N. Yabouri, as the new Director of UNREC. Mr.Yabouri took up his function on 1 September 2017.Prior to this post, he was with several peacekeeping and peace-building missions in Eastern Europe and Africa in various capacities and most recently in Guinea Bissau as Head of Political Affairs of the United Nations Integrated Peace-building Office.
In a landmark development, senior political decision-makers and technical directors of the government of Mali have given their mark of approval to the PSSM Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) within the framework of the UNREC-led Physical Security and Stockpile Management –PSSM Sahel project. This important development was arrived at after intense consultations between Malian authorities and UNREC in…
The illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Sahel region and neighboring countries constitutes a threat to peace and security. This phenomenon has not only increased the impact and intensity of armed conflicts, but also led to a generalized insecurity hindering the economic, social and political development of countries in the region. In order to bring a common and concrete response to address these…
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE Le Centre Régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), en collaboration avec les autorités nationales maliennes, organise une série d’ateliers sur le thème : « Validation des Procédures standards opérationnelles (SOP) et procédures administratives ». Les activités se dérouleront du 12 au 15 septembre 2017 à l’Hôtel Onomo de Bamako (Mali). Ces ateliers s’inscrivent dans le cadre du projet « Sécurité physique et…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) and The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sub regional platform for West and Central Africa are organising a symposium for the adoption of an Action Plan to fight against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Sahel region. The activities will take place from 6 to 7 September 2017 at Bolton White Hotel in…
The present report contains an account of the activities undertaken by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa from July 2016 to June 2017.During the reporting period, the Regional Centre continued to assist Member States, at their request, and intergovernmental and civil society organizations in Africa to promote peace, security, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. Click here to download the Report Related Documents Database of the reports of the Secretaries-General…
5 - 6 July 20107. The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in cooperation with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and with support of the 1540 Committee Group of Experts, organized a workshop on the implementation of resolution 1540. The main objective of the workshop was to facilitate the effective implementation of resolution 1540 by stakeholders in Mauritania and to assist the Government…
The proliferation of illicit small arms is a problem that affects many countries in Africa. The Sahel region is one of the most affected. These undocumented and mostly illegally held arms do not only threaten the safety and security of communities but are also used by dangerous transnational criminal networks engaged in various forms of trafficking, including of weapons, humans and illegal drugs. In many instances these arms also fall…
UNREC apporte son appui au Niger dans le cadre de la validation des procédures standard opérationnelles (SOP) et procédures administratives de gestion des armesLe Centre Régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC), en collaboration avec les autorités nationales nigériennes, organise une série d’ateliers sur le thème : « Validation des Procédures standards opérationnelles (SOP) et procédures administratives ». Les activités se dérouleront du 11…
On 18 May 2017, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), together with the Government of the Republic of Togo, launched a project to support the Government’s efforts in marking, rehabilitation of stores and destruction of obsolete weapons and ammunition. Chaired by the Togolese Minister of Security and Civil Protection and in the presence of the Permanent Secretary to the National Commission to Fight Against the…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), in collaboration with the Mauritanian national authorities, organizes a workshop on “Physical Security and Stockpile Management procedures” to be held from on 25th -26th April 2017. The event will take place in Nouakchott, Islamic Republic of Mauritania at the Monotel hotel Dar El Bakar. This workshop is part of the activities of the Physical Security and Stockpile Management…
Formerly restricted mainly to North Africa, violent Islamic extremism now forms a strategic African continuum from West to East, with the Sahelian zone and the Lake Chad Basin emerging as prime areas. This extremist violence is fueled by the continuing inflows of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF). In the Lake Chad basin region where a wave of violence is threatening Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad, these FTF are benefitting from the proliferation…
The conditions for the entry into force of the Kinshasa Convention were met following the deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification by Angola on 6 February 2017. In accordance with its article 35, paragraph 1, the Convention shall therefore enter into force on 8th March 2017 (“30 days after the date of deposit of the sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession”). Adopted on 30 April 2010, six…
The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), with the support of the Cameroonian authorities, will organise a Training of Trainers Workshop on the Inter-Institutional Course for the fight against the Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their Ammunition in Africa. This workshop will take place Djeuga Palace Hotel from 24 to 28 January 2017. This workshop is financed by the United Nations…
The present database contains the reports of the Secretaries-General on the activities undertaken by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa from 1995 to 2016. …
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) will host a Regional Workshop on Physical Security and Stockpile Management from 15 – 17 November 2016, in Lome Togo. The workshop will take place at the hotel Sarakawa. This workshop is being held within the framework of the Physical Security and Stockpile Management Project – PSSM- Sahel, co-financed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, (UNODA) and the European Union. The project aims to…
Paper prepared by UNREC as a contribution to the emerging discourse on enhancing maritime security in Africa, gives an overview of the overall challenge, conceptual definitions and international instruments relevant to maritime security in Africa . Available for download as a PDF file Photos of the Event
Peoples and the international community across the African continent, celebrated yesterday, 21st September 2016, the “International Day of Peace”, dedicatedby the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 55/282 as "a day of non-violence and cease-fire.” The declaration is an invitation addressing all countries and their people to cease hostilities on the one hand and to invest in education on peace, tolerance and non-violence on the other. The theme of this…
Within the framework of its ongoing work to address the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa, UNREC opened the Parliamentary Lusophone Workshop on the Ratification and Implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (statement attached), Hosted by the Government of Cape Verde and organised by Parliamentarians for Global Action in Praia, Cape Verde More Information
On 8 and 9 August 2016 in partnership with the Malian National Commission for the Fight Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons CNLPAL) UNREC, jointly with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organised a legal drafting workshop to support Mali in its efforts to develop a new law for the control of small arms and light weapons. Under the leadership of the president of the CNLPAL, General Coulibaly…
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) hosted experts from six countries of the Sahel to work on regional security and stability through preventing the diversion of, and illicit trafficking of government-held conventional arms and ammunition. The lack of effective Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) measures in existing depots of conventional arms and ammunition in the Sahel constitutes a serious setback to peace and…
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2016, the Director of UNREC, Ms. Olatokunbo IGE, visited the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to promote the role of women in disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control at a meeting of the KAIPTC Women Peace and Security Institute’s (WPSI) Communication Network.The Communication Network, celebrating its first anniversary in March 2016, was established to explore ways of promoting women’s participation in…
When addressing acts of gender-based violence and violence against women, many of us do not necessarily think about the arms trade. Sadly, the arms trade often goes hand in hand with their diversion, their widespread and uncontrolled availability, and their illicit traffic. These negative consequences of the arms trade fuel and prolong conflicts, aggravate tensions between States and communities, facilitate the commission of crimes and acts of terrorism, and cause…
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