On 04-06 July UNODC held meetings in Banjul, The Gambia, within the framework of the global project on firearms, with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Justice. During the visit UNODC met also with representatives of the civil society organized in the West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP Gambia). Further, UNODC participated in a special session of the Committee on Defence and Security of the National Assembly and held meetings with the Clerk of the National Assembly and the House Majority Leader.
Based on the findings during the mission and the follow-up discussions, a consensus was reached that a comprehensive overhaul of the current legislation would be required to put in place the regulatory framework necessary to give effect to relevant international instruments, including the UN Firearms Protocol and the ECOWAS Convention on SALW. It was also agreed that a new law would have to be supported by comprehensive subsidiary legislation, including regulations and rules to give effect to its basic provisions. Administrative guidelines would also have to put in place to guide all the processes.
Coordination meetings were held with the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union and the UNDP, who were informed about the activities under the global project on firearms.
