Proliferation of weapons in West Africa: the ICRC’s position
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is well known for its role assisting victims of conflict, notably with medical care and food. The ICRC also works to protect civilians against the effects of hostilities, but does this mean the ICRC can control a proliferation of arms? The responsibility to regulate, limit or control […]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is well known for its role assisting victims of conflict, notably with medical care and food. The ICRC also works to protect civilians against the effects of hostilities, but does this mean the ICRC can control a proliferation of arms?
The responsibility to regulate, limit or control the transportation, importation and proliferation of arms remains with the States.
The ICRC is often among the very first respondents to humanitarian crises during armed conflict. It has been providing assistance and protection to people affected by armed conflict for more than 150 years.
Today around 40% of its work is in Africa. Its main activities include providing basic essentials to the displaced, visiting persons detained in relation to the conflict, facilitating access to health for the sick and wounded and restoring broken family links and livelihoods.
While the humanitarian work of the ICRC is very visible in the camps and communities hosting the displaced as well as in the violence-affected communities, its work on assisting states to strengthen the implementation of the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) may be less visible.
Strengthening respect for IHL is one of the ICRC’s long-term objectives in West Africa
Towards that aim, the organisation provides states with technical support in ratifying and implementing IHL-related treaties as well as in drafting the corresponding national legislation. In addition, the ICRC organizes consultations with states with the aim of strengthening IHL.
As an example, the ICRC participated in the conferences leading to the drafting of the Arms Trade Treaty, a multilateral treaty regulating the trade, stockpiling and transfer of arms, which has been to date adopted by more than 90 states, including Nigeria. At the regional level, the ICRC is supporting the ratification and domestication of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons by member states.
A lot remains to be done in that respect both in West Africa and globally. The ICRC remains concerned about the gap between the duty to ensure respect for treaties regulating arms transfers, and the actual transfer practices of too many States. The ICRC bears witness to this gap in many countries, where the widespread availability of weapons results in appalling consequences for people, endangers vital medical and humanitarian assistance and prolongs armed conflicts.
“As weapons continue to flow, either through overt or covert transfers or through diversion, to some of the most brutal armed conflicts such as those seen in parts of the Middle East and of Africa today, there is an urgent need to close the gap between law and practice,” Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC, said in his 2015 address to participants of the first Conference of the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, Cancun, Mexico.
Concerted efforts of States, international organizations, NGOs and the ICRC are needed to achieve a lasting difference for people whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by weapons.
Humanitarian organisations such as the ICRC and NGOs continue to remind national leaders of the tremendous human suffering caused by the widespread and poorly regulated availability of conventional weapons. However, the final responsibility to ensure the respect of the laws curbing their proliferation rests with the states and their relevant security agencies that are tasked with the establishment of robust national control systems.
Eloi Fillion
Head of Delegation
ICRC Nigeria