Eliminating Small Arms in Africa

what are the delegates opinion in relation to this serious issue that is effecting all African countries? Do the delegates agree that all illegal small arms trade have to come to an end?

Yes, Delegate Sarah, the issue of illegal arms trading in Africa must come to an end due to the fact that 300,000 to 500,000 people are killed by small arms each year. What do the delegates think about this alarming issue?

flw

For sure the small arms trade have to come to an end, since the small arms are being used by young children, making the number of child soldier in African countries an estimation of 300,000.
Sau Wai

That is a very disturbing reality. Only from 1996 to now, about 1.8 million child soldier were recruited by the rebels and the military to fight in wars and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Yes, the eliminating small arms in Africa should end due to the fact that it is estimated to be 100 million illicit small arms in Africa bringing many areas not to develop around the country.

I totally agree with you delegate, and in most cases child soldiers are fighting among the soldiers, and that is a very serious situation. In Congo, the recruitment of child soldiers is becoming a very serious issue, since the government don't seem to care about it. This reality is obviously spreading thoughout Africa.

Yes, as the delagates stated, the illegal arms trade in Africa needs to end. Just in Angola, the police collected 200,000 illegal arms bringing up serious situations.

During the war against Rwanda, DRC used child soldiers; many died during this war, but the other ones are completely traumatized. Now, there are 12,000 child soldiers in Democratic Republic of Congo, because the UN peace keeping is trying to stop the Child soldiers training.
I don't think that child soldier is only a issue, but these children going to war are completely traumatized because of war; but when they will be adults, they don't really know what does "peaceful life" mean; these soldiers doesn't have many choices: stay in the Congo army, try to live like an peaceful man, or finish his days by killing himself.

That's why we really have to find a good solution quickly.
is you have some ideas, pm me

Africa contains some of the world's most severe issues related to its cuntries, among them small arms trade. This multimillionaire industry atracks diverse ilegal investors that seek fortune in the death of inocent people. Somalia for instance is now under an arms embargo from the United Nations who will progress with a six month invetigation to better understand the problem, but will have, unfortunately, to leave the country when the time expires.

This deplorable situation has caused the death of over 1 million children who were, without any other option, turned into child soldiers. For this reasons and infinite others a severe embargo has to be proposed and executed in an eficient manner to end with arms trade in all African unstabble nations.

The delegates of Sierra Leone would like to thank all African nations for posting their positions towards this issue. although we would like to bring up a fact and alarm each of you: the Unites States has opposed its possition towards small arms trade, it has indeed stated that it will be inteferring in any UN plans to solve this issue, as to the interferrance of the right of an individual to carry guns. We would also like to emphasize that most of the small arms that end up killing hundreds of Africans are sold and spread by the black market, many times comming from these so called "powerful nations", such as the US.

Though the delegate of South Africa throughfully believes that the small arms trade is a serious issue that has to be resolved it does not blame the USA for such atrocities. The ilegal selling of weaponry is a problem all around the world and is greatly strengthened by negligent or corrupt goverments which profit from such trades. The delegate also believes that it is an intrinsic right of a citizen to buy arms for self-defense which unfortunately prove necessary in some of our african nations.
Therefore the delegate supports, especialy, the extinction of the "weapon black market" and the strengthening of weapon controlling laws.

Being the largest African nation in the production of small arms, South Africa is happy to inform that since 1999, the nation has committed itself to destroy any surplus of small arms. Also, the country has placed a more severe watch over its borders, impeding such weapons to be transported and taken to warzones.

South Africa's past in relation to small arms isn't nice. South Africa has faced many bloody civil wars, in which small arms contributed to the death of thousands. Therefore, South Africa is tired of such deaths and the Delegation is sure that the nation had too much siffering due to such weapons.

delegate we have stated that the US is not the ONLY nation selling weapons that end up in Sierra Leone, what we are saying is that it is ONE of the countries which is selling these weapons.

and delegate leo, thank you for stating that South Africa is commited on watching over its borders and helping to decrease the number of small arms that end up on warzones, and other nations, causing as well internal conflicts, as Sierra Leone has also already faced

The issue of small arms flows in Zimbabwe is totally connected to the history of the Southern African region.

Since the British occupation, indigenous African population laid much for weapons, both in Zimbabwe a neighbouring states.

Small arms flows are not only of concern to Zimbabwe as a nation-state.

The porous nature of its surrounding borders with Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia increases the issue

Reinforcing Paulo's statement, it is absolutely senselless to blame a single nation when there are many others involved. Sierra Leone does suffer a lot by the effects of such small weapons but still, it wont put an end to its suffering just by blaming the USA. It is crucial to consider that for being a such well developed nation and a major distributor of small arms around the world, the United States is often blamed as, quoting Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD, "the great Satan".

What does causes such destruction and loss of lifes in Sierra Leone is the ilegal market of weapons trade. Thousands are involved in this illegal practice, getting rich by selling the arms and never being punished. The South African delegation strongly suggests that Sierra Leone's delegates try to solve the issue inside the country and continentfirst before going out and pointing fingers at nations.

the problem for Congo, it is that rebels are buying arms for them, and then they go take children/men to include them in their army...
so if it can finish as soon as possible, the situation in Congo will be more confortable.

The illegal arms trade in African nations feed diverse conflicts, contributing to poverty and stalling nation development. Therefore, South Africa affirms that if this illegal system is not brought down the African Nation will; One may not exist while the other stands.

Various actions have been done to stop this trade and some have proven worthy in the year of 2005 alone over 17,000 weapons were collected with a 17 million dollar program. Though not much, it was enough to impede the suffering of various families which would have had relatives killed with the light arms.

Stronger programs have to be created and a serious law enforcement has to be made in order to forever stagnate this trade and bring back the deserved prosperity to the African nations.

How will Sierra Leone have control of all trading among its country?
How is children going to be educated to go to a school and leave these arms?
What will be the punishment for those that the control of small arms?

Hello delegates,

First of all Johns questions of are very valids since it clarifies to us the real intention of the delegates, of how they will control, how will you convince children to go to school, and others.

Zimbabwe is once again here to speak up for this issue which is damaging and effecting millions of Africans. YES we know its a huge problem and it needs an end, so we are waiting anxious for the resolution to be posted as soon as possible.

yes delegates, all of these are valid questions which we believe will be answered as soon as possible when the resolution is posted, and as we also hope that the solutions that Sierra Leone will be benefiting all and diminishing this illegal trade =)

The delegates of Sierra Leone would like to once more emphasize an important point about this concerning issue: many of the small arms are used by young children, the estimated number is of 300,000 child soldiers armed all over the African countries. I believe that this fact can indeed bring up a diffrent issue in discussion: child soldier=CHILD ABUSE.