STATEMENT BY
MR. WANJUKI MUCHEMI
SOLICITOR GENERAL
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
ON
AGENDA ITEM 158:
OBSERVER STATUS FOR THE REGIONAL CENTRE ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION AND THE HORN OF AFRICA
AT THE
62ND SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASEMBLY
SIXTH COMMITTEE

FRIDAY - 19TH OCTOBER 2007


Mr. Chairman,

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for giving me the floor. I have the honour on behalf of Member States of the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) namely; Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania to introduce the draft resolution on agenda item 158 entitled Observer Status for the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa.

As we are all aware, the circulation and trafficking in Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and bordering States has undermined peace, intensified violence, crime and fuelled the wars in the region, with detrimental effect on socio-economic.

This situation necessitated the regional countries to issue the Nairobi Declaration in the year 2000 forming the Secretariat on Small Arms as a regional platform to contain the problem of proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

During the Third Ministerial Review Conference of the Nairobi Declaration on the problem of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and bordering States, held between 20th and 21st June 2005, these countries adopted an Agreement transforming the Secretariat into the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa (RECSA) with Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

This transformation was necessitated by the need to give RECSA the independence and legal personalities of an International inter-governmental body to enable it fulfill its mandate more effectively. The fourth Ministerial Review Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, on 17th April this year mandated RECSA Secretariat to seek Observer Status with the United Nations.

The work of RECSA is to coordinate and assist Member States in implementing the Programme of Action, relevant resolutions and instruments related to small arms and light weapons. It is also responsible for coordinating their interaction with national focal points, regional and international agencies, civil society, research institutions, capacity building and information sharing on how to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

Observer Status in the United Nations will enhance RECSA’s capacity to advance its objectives through interaction with countries and international organizations in tackling the problem posed by proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

In this regard, and on behalf of the RECSA Member States, we request delegations to support the resolution granting Observer Status to RECSA.

Thank you.