The ECOWAS Commission has called for the review of the United Nations Draft Arms Trade Treaty seeking to address the challenges facing the international circulation of ammunition, small arms and light weapons.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs Salamatu Suleiman, made the call in Abuja at a preparatory meeting for the UN conference.

The two-day preparatory meeting is scheduled to take place ahead of the UN Conference on Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in March.

Suleiman recalled that UN Arms Trade meeting held on July, 2012 released a draft copy of the treaty which formed the basis for “future negotiations”.

She, however, said that the draft treaty needed to be reviewed to accommodate “elements critical for the security of the ECOWAS region.

“There is the absence of reference to non-state actors and to their role in the illicit circulation and the misuse of conventional arms.

“An analysis of the insecurity situation in Africa makes it imperative that arms transfer to these entities that are not under state control are prohibited,’’ Suleiman said.

The commissioner emphasised that prohibiting the access of conventional arms to rebels, criminals and terrorist groups would promote humanitarian law and reduce related social and developmental costs.

She added that other areas of focus include the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in the implementation of the ATT and the issue of ammunition in the treaty.

The commissioner said “apart from the fact that other existing international legal instruments negotiated under UN auspices, the ECOWAS Commission advocates that the ATT recognises the roles of the RECs.

“The commission’s reading of the draft is that ammunition is not covered by this treaty and no small areas and light weapons will have lethal effects without ammunition.

“The language used in the treaty in reference to ammunition is weak and restrictive not reflecting their importance to the treaty,” she noted.

Suleiman also called on member states to focus on ways to incorporate areas pointed in the ATT.

The 2012 conference on ATT had negotiated the treaty to establish high common standards for international trade in conventional arms.

However, the conference could not reach an agreement on a treaty text.