UN helps develop 'road map' to eradicate trade in small arms

A regional ministerial meeting opened on Wednesday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, following a two-day UN seminar to develop a "road map" to eradicate illegal trade in small arms and light weapons in the central African region, UN News reported. Participants at the meeting were expected to review implementation by UN member states of previous recommendations and decisions on the eradication and prevention of illicit trade on small arms and light weapons. They were also to look into ways of strengthening cooperation between the UN and central African states on the issue. The UN seminar was organised by the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa to develop a plan for the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA) in central Africa over the next two years. UN News reported that the "road map" would constitute the contribution of the central African region to the first biennial meeting of states on the implementation of the PoA, scheduled for July at UN Headquarters in New York.