Harmonising small arms control legislation

Selected case studies from the Great Lakes region and Horn of Africa

International co-operation, the establishment of effective tracing systems and the enforcement of arms embargoes are essential to reduce and combat the illicit trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW). In the year 2000 ten states in Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa signed the Nairobi Declaration which committed to strengthening and harmonising legislation on SALW. Supplementing the Nairobi Declaration, the Nairobi Protocol of 2004 legally binds member states to fulfil a range of commitments relating to SALW control legislation, including ensuring that the harmonisation of laws occurs.

Using five country case studies (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda), this report details the progress made on the harmonisation of SALW legislation under the Nairobi Protocol to date. It is hoped that this study will help create greater awareness among key stakeholders (including the Regional Centre on Small Arms, National Focal Points, donors and civil society partners) of what needs to be done to improve the speed and quality of national reviews and the regional harmonisation of legislation in line with the Nairobi Protocol’s Best Practice Guidelines.