UNITED NATIONS WORKSHOP ON SMALL ARMS, LIGHT WEAPONS IN ASIA OPENS IN BANGKOK

NEW YORK, 18 May (Department for Disarmament Affairs) -- The United Nations workshop entitled “Towards the Review Conference on the Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects”, was opened in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday, 17 May.  The workshop intends to assist the South and South-East Asian States to better prepare for the Review Conference on the Implementation of the Programme of Action.

Organized by the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific of the Department for Disarmament Affairs, the workshop is sponsored by the Governments of Canada, Japan, Thailand and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The objectives of the workshop are to identify specific problems with small arms and light weapons in the region, address challenges and exchange information, including experiences and best practices on the implementation of the Programme of Action, and encourage and improve regional cooperation.  In order to achieve those goals, participants will discuss various issues including:  ongoing and future actions related to illicit trade in small arms and light weapons; implementation of an international instrument on marking and tracing; export/import control; supply and demand perspective; gender issues; linkages with other issues:  capacity-building and assistance.

Approximately 70 participants from Governments and non-governmental organizations, mainly from South and South-East Asia, as well as international organizations were present at the workshop in their personal capacity.

For further information, contact:  Tsutomu Ishiguri, Director, Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, tel.:  917 367 4130; fax:  212 963 1121; e-mail:  rasandiharisoa@un.org.

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