Region

"Focus on the causes", was the overriding message to came out of the meeting on Violence Prevention in West Africa held in Abuja, Nigeria. Members of civil society organizations discussed next steps in the spirit of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development.

Celestin Nkundabemera, the Program Director of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Somalia, tells Comunidad Segura about its work assisting the country's peace-building efforts. Their work includes conflict mediation, helping young people start businesses, reactivating water wells, involving women in management and taking people in refugee camps a new outlook on life.

Balance of the balance: Exports and imports of small arms, light
weapons (SALW) its parts and ammunition to Africa, Latin America, and
the Caribbean, from 2000 to
2007.

Shift in cocaine routes threatens security in W. Africa, while inflating cocaine-related offenses and adversely affecting public health in Europe.

Africa pays a high price for war, and there are numbers to describe it.  The non governmental agency Saferworld's latest report equates the cost of conflict to the amount of aid given, an estimated 300 billion pounds over the past 15 years, raising important questions on how to help ally peace to development. 

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"Exert pressure from grass-roots level and from highest spheres", faith-based entities met in Kenya calling for dialogue on gun control and the Arms Trade Treaty in the continent. 

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