United Nations Security Council Resolution 1467
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1467, adopted unanimously on March 18, 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in West Africa
, the Council adopted a declaration regarding the proliferation of weapon
s and mercenary
activities in West Africa.
The declaration was adopted after a daylong high-level meeting attended by more than 20 speakers and chaired by François Lonseny Fall
, the foreign minister of Guinea
.
and international humanitarian law
. Measures adopted at a domestic level to counter the problem in the region were urged to be put into effect, and greater co-operation among states was emphasised in order to prevent illegal arms trafficking and mercenary activities.
States in West Africa were called upon to consider the following steps to assist in the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Moratorium on Small Arms:
expanding the Moratorium to include an information exchange system; increasing transparency in armaments through an ECOWAS register recording national inventories of weapons; strengthening national commissions to monitor the implementation of the Moratorium; building the capacity of the ECOWAS secretariat; computerisation of aircraft registration lists to ensure improved monitoring of airspace
; introducing standardised end-user certificates
for imported weapons.
The declaration also expressed concern at violations of arms embargo
es in West Africa and links between such violations, illegal arms trafficking and mercenary activities. Therefore, there was a need to make the population of the subregion aware of the dangers of arms trafficking and the activities of mercenaries. The Council requested ECOWAS states to submit reports on actions taken to implement the United Nations programme of action on small arms and light weapons to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
. Appealing to the donor
community, the resolution called for assistance to states in West Africa in implementing such measures.
The Council further called upon countries in West Africa to recognise the importance of disarmament
, demobilisation
and reintegration in post-conflict situations and cease support for armed groups in neighbouring countries. Arms-producing
countries were requested to strengthen regulations and procedures for arms transfers to West Africa. Finally, the declaration repeated calls for regional and subregional organisations to develop policies for the benefit of war-affected children.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1467, adopted unanimously on March 18, 2003, after expressing concern at the situation in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
, the Council adopted a declaration regarding the proliferation of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s and mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
activities in West Africa.
The declaration was adopted after a daylong high-level meeting attended by more than 20 speakers and chaired by François Lonseny Fall
François Lonseny Fall
François Lonseny Fall is a Guinean diplomat and political figure. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea from February 23, 2004 to April 30, 2004....
, the foreign minister of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
.
Declaration
The Security Council began by expressing concern at and condemning the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as well as activities by mercenaries in West Africa as contributing to violations of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
. Measures adopted at a domestic level to counter the problem in the region were urged to be put into effect, and greater co-operation among states was emphasised in order to prevent illegal arms trafficking and mercenary activities.
States in West Africa were called upon to consider the following steps to assist in the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS) Moratorium on Small Arms:
expanding the Moratorium to include an information exchange system; increasing transparency in armaments through an ECOWAS register recording national inventories of weapons; strengthening national commissions to monitor the implementation of the Moratorium; building the capacity of the ECOWAS secretariat; computerisation of aircraft registration lists to ensure improved monitoring of airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
; introducing standardised end-user certificates
End user certificate
An End-user certificate, or EUC, is a document used in international transfers, including sales and arms provided as aid, of weapons and ammunition to certify that the buyer is the final recipient of the materials, and is not planning on transferring the materials to another party...
for imported weapons.
The declaration also expressed concern at violations of arms embargo
Arms embargo
An arms embargo is an embargo that applies to weaponry. It may also include "dual use" items. An arms embargo may serve one or more purposes:# to signal disapproval of behavior by a certain actor,# to maintain neutral standing in an ongoing conflict, or...
es in West Africa and links between such violations, illegal arms trafficking and mercenary activities. Therefore, there was a need to make the population of the subregion aware of the dangers of arms trafficking and the activities of mercenaries. The Council requested ECOWAS states to submit reports on actions taken to implement the United Nations programme of action on small arms and light weapons to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
. Appealing to the donor
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
community, the resolution called for assistance to states in West Africa in implementing such measures.
The Council further called upon countries in West Africa to recognise the importance of disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
, demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
and reintegration in post-conflict situations and cease support for armed groups in neighbouring countries. Arms-producing
Arms industry
The arms industry is a global industry and business which manufactures and sells weapons and military technology and equipment. It comprises government and commercial industry involved in research, development, production, and service of military material, equipment and facilities...
countries were requested to strengthen regulations and procedures for arms transfers to West Africa. Finally, the declaration repeated calls for regional and subregional organisations to develop policies for the benefit of war-affected children.
See also
- History of West AfricaHistory of West AfricaThe partial history of West Africa can be divided into five major periods:#Its prehistory, in which the first human settlers arrived, agriculture developed, and contact made with the Mediterranean civilizations to the north....
- Ivorian Civil War
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- Second Liberian Civil WarSecond Liberian Civil WarThe Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
- Sierra Leone Civil WarSierra Leone Civil WarThe Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
External links
- Text of Resolution at UNdemocracy.com