06 maj Regional Seminar “Connecting the Dots”, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly May 7-8 2018
Increasing parliamentary ownership of international arms control instruments
The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons in collaboration with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), will host the regional seminar “Connecting the Dots: Supporting 2030 Agenda, the Arms Trade Treaty and the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms implementation through increased parliamentary engagement and action in international processes” on May 7-8 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The seminar seeks to increase parliamentary engagement, understanding and ownership of international arms control instruments. It will also focus on identifying synergy effects in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the Arms Trade Treaty and the United Nations Programme to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).
The access and misuse of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) fuels violence in several South-East Asian countries. Moreover, illicit arms flows negatively affect sustainable development and pose a threat to human security and sustainable peace. Effective steps to tackle the uncontrolled proliferation of SALW are crucial to prevent and reduce armed violence. In view of their legislative, oversight and awareness-raising functions for national implementation of international arms control frameworks, parliamentarians play a vital role in armed violence prevention and reduction.
The seminar will gather members of parliaments from five focus countries; Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam being members to AIPA. The participation of other AIPA member parliaments is also expected, as well as of representatives of the diplomatic community and civil society. The key parliamentary priorities and recommendations will be condensed into a regional Parliamentary Action Plan, as part of preparation for the upcoming UNPoA Third Revision Conference in New York in June 2018.