The Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA) evolved on the 16TH October 2001 after the launching of Freetown into the peace to the city Global network. It is a national coalition of religious institutions and civil society organizations and networks, cooperating in advocacy on small arms and light weapons control. This coalition shares the growing concern that the easy availability of SALW fuels and escalates conflicts and has a devastating impact on human and state security. It is directed towards human safety and security on the basis of the West African Moratorium on Small arms and light Weapons (now the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials) and the United Nations Programme of Action on SALW in all its Aspects.
Effective action against SALW requires a range of short, medium and long term initiatives and strategies. It needs a two-pronged approach with multiple efforts and a wide variety of anchors from all sectors of the community. This network provides effective implementation of initiatives and cohesiveness of small arms actions within its national framework.
OUR MISSION
To be a strong and effective network providing quality information and education in both public and human security. To promote constructive debates, emphasizing on solutions and best practices, assembling human and public security related resources pertaining to academic research, government, law enforcement, journalism and citizenship. Tto promote human security in post-conflict Sierra Leone with specific emphasis on fostering a secured environment in which safety, security and development and human rights would be considered as fundamental public good.
OUR PARTNERS
The Network comprises fifteen active local organizations of church and para church groups, women’s groups, youth groups and government institutions. We operate in partnership with The National commission on SALW, UNDP country office, OXFAM – GB, ECOWAS, WAANSA, IANSA., Coalition on Cluster Munitions (CMC)
CONTEXT
Consolidating democracy in post conflict Sierra Leone comes with a number of challenges, which include but are not limited to, poverty, unemployment, small arms proliferation, and human rights abuse. These challenges, which in themselves might trigger conflicts, have the attendant feature of contributing to gross indiscipline, high crime rate and armed banditry.
SLANSA recognizes the need for an integrated approach in the realization of human security targets by mainstreaming the concepts of human rights and good governance, as critical components to the achievement of a more inclusive human security.
OBJECTIVES
- To ensure that all small arms instruments, such are the ECOWAS Convention, are the basis of the arms control mechanism of government
- To ensure the popularization and domestication of the ECOWAS Convention in Sierra Leone
- To educate MPs and SLANSA members about ECOWAS Convention in a bid to build their capacity to tackling small arms related problems in post-conflict Sierra Leone.
- To tackle the phenomenon of the culture of violence in post-conflict Sierra Leone and promote a culture of peace especially during periods of electioneering.
- To build the capacity of SLANSA in effectively complementing the role and responsibility of government in creating and maintaining a peaceful environment.
