IANSA’s partners in West Africa, under the banner of the West African Action Network on Small Arms WAANSA, are working with governments and other NGOs to curb the proliferation of small arms in the region through:
– Supporting the implementation and evaluation of the ECOWAS moratorium on the import, export and manufacture of small arms and light weapons (see below)
– Engaging in weapons collection and destruction programs throughout the region
– Assisting in the disarming, demobilizing and re-integrating of ex-combatants
– Educating public officials, journalists and the public about the extent of the small arms crisis in the region and measures to curb proliferation.
Established in May 2002 in Accra, Ghana, the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms WAANSA is a network of more than 50 organizations from Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo working to prevent the proliferation of small arms in the region.
WAANSA serves as a forum for the exchange of information, views, experiences and strategies in combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in West Africa; works for the reduction of demand for small arms and light weapons in the region; and provides solidarity to all those who work on small arms issues.
WAANSA network members include national civil society organizations, networks or coalitions of civil society organisations; experts, civil and political leaders, popular and outstanding figures, and others.