In an international conference organized by HRITCSmall arms trade discussed [Archives:2003/694/Local News]

Meetings of a 2-day 5th international conference on the use of small arms and light weapons (SALW) organised by the Human Rights Information and Training Centre (HRITC) in cooperation with the Canadian Program for Development, the AFSC, the Regional Human Security Center in Jordan and the British Embassy in Sana'a, began at Sheraton Hotel in Sana'a Saturday 13 December 2003.
The event opening ceremony was attended by a host of political personalities and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The conference was also attended by representatives of international organisations from Britain, Switzerland and Canada, as well as representatives for Arab organisations in Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
In his address to the conferees the minister of state, the chairman of the National Higher Committee for demining Qassem al-A'jem said the conference was being held at a very critical time for curbing the phenomenon of illegitimate armament, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation among non-governmental organisations and official establishments in this very serious issue which concerns the entire society. Mr al-A'jem also pointed out that Yemen had already started taking serious steps for restraining the spread of weapons and curbing their misuse. He made it clear that the steps taken in this regard were in reconsidering the present law and various security campaigns as well as the process of buying pieces of weapons from the citizens.
On his part Mr Eizadin al-Asbahi president of the HRITC, the regional coordinator of the International Network on limiting the misuse of small arms affirmed that the task of civil society organisations was in continuous significance regarding that issue and the entire world must work for restricting the misuse of weapons, adding that it was the responsibility of the manufacturing and the importing countries as well as the companies and individuals. He pointed out that statistics indicate there are 639 million pieces of small arms and 1138 arms manufacturing companies with an annual production amounting to eight million pieces of arms.
Addresses by the Regional Representative of for the Arab Region, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Dr Amin Maki Madani, Dr Atef Odibat, director of RHSC, Mr Jason Erb, regional director of AFSC, the British ambassador to Yemen Mrs Frances Guy and Mrs Emily King, representative of the Canadian embassy, stressed on the importance of the conference and significance of the issue it is bearing, which aims at protecting human right and defending their dignity.
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