The Arab League honored Morocco today in Cairo for its significant contributions to fostering collaboration between the Arab League and the European Union in the fight against the illegal trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates were also recognized for their roles in this ongoing initiative.
The awards were presented during the closing session of the second phase of a joint project between the Arab League and the European Union. The project, which focuses on curbing the illicit trade of small arms in Arab League member states, has seen substantial progress thanks to the active participation of the countries involved.
Morocco’s recognition is particularly noteworthy, as the country has been instrumental in supporting the project’s initiatives.
In 2022, Morocco hosted the first regional workshop in Tangier, marking the beginning of the second phase of this cooperation. The country also organized several national training sessions in its capital, Rabat, further cementing its role as a leader in this effort.
The two-day closing meeting was organized by the Arab League’s Department of Arms Control and Disarmament in collaboration with the European Union and key partners such as Interpol, the World Customs Organization, and the Small Arms Survey.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the progress made and discussed future strategies to continue the fight against the illegal spread of small arms.
Both the Arab League and the European Union stressed the importance of continued cooperation between regional and international organizations to effectively combat the illicit arms trade.
Launched in 2019, the EU-LAS project aims to support the Member States of the League of Arab States (LAS) in sustainably building their national capacities to combat the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The project also aids LAS Member States in implementing the UN Small Arms Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument.