The issue of criminality has also been captured by the United Nations Secretary General report entitled “In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all” released in March 2005. In the report, the United Nations Secretary General asks all States to agree on a new security consensus, by which they commit themselves to treat any threat to one of them as a threat to all, and to work together to prevent catastrophic terrorism, end civil wars, build lasting peace in war-torn countries and stop the proliferation of deadly weapons.

In Mozambique, illicit small arms are widely available as a legacy of the fight for independence and the following civil war which ended in 1992. These weapons are directly linked to the sharp increase in crime, including murder, armed robbery, carjacking and drug trafficking.

The increasing criminality and insecurity negatively affect the investment climate and undermine the prospects of sustainable development of Mozambique. This situation is aggravated by the existing legal framework which is out of date.

In the meantime, several measures have been taken by the Government to effectively control the proliferation of illicit small arms and to minimize the related problems. Police operations have been carried out aimed at confiscating arms illegally held by the population and destroying hidden caches of arms left in the rural areas after the civil war.

Along with these government efforts, the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), a national NGO, has been successfully undertaking a project aiming at the transformation of arms into agricultural inputs, contributing to the identification of arms caches and the development of a culture of peace in the country. According to CCM data estimates, between 1995 and December 2003 the project has collected nearly 760,000 different war artifacts.

In order to strengthen its capacity in dealing with this threat to peace and stability of the country, the Government of Mozambique has requested assistance of the United Nations system, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

On 17th May 2005, the Government promulgated a decree for the legal establishment of the National Small Arms Commission with the following composition:

- Ministry of Interior (chair);

- Ministry of Defense (deputy-chair);

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation;

- Ministry of Justice;

- Ministry of Finance;

- Ministry of Planning and Development;

- Ministry of Education and Culture.

UNDP will provide technical and financial resources estimated in 550.000 USD to support its specific activities. The Mozambican Government contribution will be in staff and offices.

In collaboration with Safer Africa, additional funding to a total of US 444,000 will be made available, while UNDP will provide technical and financial resources estimated in USD 550,000 to support its specific activities. The Mozambican Government contribution will be in-kind (staff and project offices).

The two-year project is intended to provide assistance to the National Commission through the:

a) development and implementation of a National Action Plan;

b) formulation of a new legislation;

c) registration of weapons in the possession of civilians;

d) design and implementation of activities to increase awareness on the dangers of proliferation and misuse of small arms and

a) Clean-up of the destroyed ammunition depot in Beira.

The project will be implemented with the collaboration of national and international NGOs, namely the CCM, Safer Africa, among others within the framework of the SADC protocol, and similar initiatives carried out by international institutions and civil society organizations to respond to the challenges posed by the proliferation of small arms not only in Mozambique but also in the region.

Her Excellency Ms. Alcinda Abreu, Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and His Excellency Mr. José Pacheco, Mozambican Minister of Interior, will sign the project document in Maputo on 15th August 2005 on behalf of the Government and Ms. Marylène Spezzati, Resident Representative, on behalf of UNDP.

For more information, please contact Nelson Xavier, UNDP Public Information Officer.

Mobile phone: + 258 82 3140600

Office + 258 01 481438

E-mail: nelson.xavier@undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.