Several United Nations agencies have launched a new project to address the link between terrorism, arms and crime through enhancing national legislative, strategic and operational capacities to prevent, detect and counter the firearms trafficking and other illegal activities related to terrorism and organized crime. The UN has repeatedly warned that illicit flows of small arms and light weapons undermine security and the rule of law. The new project came in compliance with several Security Council Resolutions, recommending to thwart small arms and light weapons trafficking and stressing the importance to prevent terrorists’ access to weapons. During the launch, the project’s sponsors introduced its activities, including missions to assess regional situations, relevant legislation and response capacities to the threat posed by firearms trafficking, terrorism and related crimes. The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy underlines the connection between terrorism and the illicit small arms trafficking, conventional ammunitions and explosives, and calls on Member States to strengthen coordination and cooperation to address this challenge.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 23, 2020 09:56 UTC