Today 147 states at the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to move forward with work on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Control Arms campaign, which represents millions of campaigners around the world welcomed the vote but called for more urgency from states to advance the process quickly and ensure a strong Treaty with human rights and development at its heart.

145 states supported for the Treaty and 2 others subsequently added their names, an increase on the 139 states who voted to start the UN process in October 2006, showing increasing global consensus in favor of the treaty. 116 of the yes voters also co-sponsored the resolution. The vote was particularly strong in Africa, South and Central America and Europe indicating strong demand for arms control both from countries severely affected by armed violence and from major exporters. Only the US and Zimbabwe voted against, ignoring increasing global consensus for an ATT.

Every day, over 1000 people are killed directly with firearms and many thousands more die indirectly as a consequence of armed violence or are driven from their homes, forced off their land, raped, tortured or maimed. Since the UN process started in December 2006, approximately 695,000 people have been killed directly with firearms, illustrating the urgent need for an Arms Trade Treaty. Any further delay means more lost lives.

Brian Wood from Amnesty International said:
“This big vote today moves the world closer to an Arms Trade Treaty with respect for human rights at its heart, the only way such a treaty can really stop the carnage. Today’s decision is that the principles of the UN Charter and other state obligations must be considered central to the Treaty. It is shameful that the US and Zimbabwe governments have taken an unprincipled stand today against a Treaty that would save so many lives and livelihoods.”

Anna Macdonald from Oxfam International, said:
“Most governments now support an Arms Trade Treaty and they must now move forward with urgency. Today’s vote is one step closer to turning off the running tap of irresponsible arms transfers which have flooded the world’s conflict zones for decades, fueling death, injury and poverty, such as is happening now in DRC. However we need leaps forward not steps, as every day lost means hundreds more lives lost.”

Mark Marge from the International Action Network on Small Arms said:
“This vote is a victory for the millions of campaigners in countries around the world. But we cannot afford to rest. All those against the misuse of arms will continue to pressure their governments to move quickly to implement a strong, legally binding treaty.”

Additional Information:

1. The Control Arms campaign is made up of Amnesty International, the International Action Network on Small Arms and Oxfam International. You can find out more on the Control Arms campaign and the Arms Trade Treaty at www.controlarms.org
2. Further to this vote the United Nations will set up an Open Ended Working Group to allow all states to discuss the potential text of an Arms Trade Treaty. 
 
Background to the ATT process:
 
• In 2006 the resolution ‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty’ was co-authored by Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Kenya and the United Kingdom and tabled for voting at the UN General Assembly, when 153 countries voted yes, 24 abstain and only the US voted No.
• The massive December 2006 vote set in motion a UN process to consider the feasibility, scope and draft parameters for an ATT during 2007 through submissions of views by states (over 100 submitted views, which was unprecedented) and during 2008 though examination by a UN Group of Governmental Experts. The latter Group reported back to the UN in August 2008 identifying some points of consensus and some differing views.
Why is the ATT vote this October so important?
• The resolution to be tabled by the co-authors is the critical next step to widen and deepen discussions amongst all states to enable stronger regulation of the global arms trade. It will set out the next stage in the process towards agreeing the framework, scope and principles of a legally binding treaty to bring the arms trade under much stricter control by states.

OXFAM 

Officials in Sierra Leone are drafting a new law that will tighten controls on non-profit organisations working in the country, joining other governments demanding more accountability from their donors.

Deputy Finance Minister Richard Conteh announced at a press conference the NGO reform initiative on 2 September, saying the non-profit sector has largely escaped government oversight: “We don’t know how much is being spent and what they are doing. The majority of the country’s development activities – channelled through 300 non-profit organisations – have made little difference.”

An 11-year civil war that ended in 2002 paralysed health and education services – damage evident in the country’s relatively low quality of life.

The UN has ranked Sierra Leone last among 177 countries for which it measures access to health care, education and a living-wage income. Less than half of the population is enrolled in school, an average 35 percent of the population cannot read, and the average life span is 40 years. Almost 30 percent of children do not live past the age of five.

If someone in Sierra Leone works every day of the year, they make on average 71 US cents a day, according to World Bank 2007 estimates.

Charles Mambu, the local representative of the West Africa Civil Society Forum, said local non-profits can do more to help speed up the country’s development, but they are often not consulted: “International non-profits have the ability to attract more donor dollars. They have the big staff. The big cars. It is very hard for local civil society to attract that kind of money.”

Mambu added that aid agencies’ selection process for local partners is often not transparent. “Unless you know someone who selects partner organisations, you will not be chosen.”

But spokesman Peter Ngu Tayong with the UN Development Programme in Sierra Leone, which reported spending $67 million in 2006-2007 on youth employment, health, and human rights programming, told IRIN the UN chooses qualified partners based on merit: “All NGOs must first register with the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance and Development. Secondly, after a competitive process the best is considered for any collaboration.”

Vrinda Dar, director of non-profit Oxfam UK’s Sierra Leone program, which has been running programs for the past 10 years, told IRIN locals get first priority: “Oxfam International subscribes to the Accountability Charter of the International Advocacy NGOs, and our own Southern Advocacy Guidelines state clearly that local and national organisations have primary legitimacy as advocates in their countries, and that Oxfam is there to support them not to take their place.”

The NGO reforms, to be applied to both local and international NGOs, would require annual activity reports and registration with the government every two years, according to the finance ministry’s Conteh.

The civil society forum’s Mambu told IRIN regulations are needed, but they should not stifle activities: “They [reforms] should not get rid of well- governed NGOs.”

He expressed concern that the government may selectively enforce the regulations based on political leanings. “Civil society and NGOs should not be targeted because of their political beliefs. The government should not use back-door regulations to restrict political dissent.”

IRIN 

New important voices are now calling for the abolition of the scheme of what many call ‘tougher but fairer immigration control’’ by not only introducing some concessionary offers but also unveiling new identity cards to replace the old fashioned paper document providing a system more acceptable to the people. They call for amnesty to be granted to certain illegal immigrants in order to reduce cost and help such illegal immigrants to stay in the country on humanitarian grounds.

Despite the fact that the immigration issue has been over-shadowed by the economic topics including the credit crunch, some senior politicians are now calling for such amnesty deal in favour of illegal immigrants. Many experts are saying that this is not about opposing the idea of the government but simply appealing in favour of amnesty on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

However conditions are attached that such people must provide evidence that they lived in the country during the past seven years and this may simply allow them to register as residents, pay taxes and possibly may later earn citizenship.

Both the leader of Liberal Democrat and an official of the opposition conservatives have added their voices to the debate. They believe that it is the only way to recognise such individuals living in the country outside the ambit of the law.     

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said he was not willing to share his personal information and details on the identity card data base and publicly rejected the project. In addition, his party’s Shadow Home Secretary Chris Huhne said: ‘‘No matter how fancy the design of ID cards is, they remain a grotesque intrusion on the liberty of the British people.”

An official of the opposition Conservatives that has been supportive of strict immigration rules has indicated the idea of an amnesty. Anthony Browne policy director with the conservative Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘‘The only humane and practical way to deal with Britain’s illegally settled community is to offer immunity from deportation.” 

Writing in The Independent, one of the most respectable newspapers in the country, Mr Browne Director of the Policy Exchange Think-Tank, argues that granting an amnesty would be “far fairer, humane, better for society and more economically efficient”.

However Home Secretary Jacqui Smith recently reminded people that everyone can enjoy the benefits of the immigration rules including the identity card scheme as quickly as possible. According to the Home Secretary it will help protect against ‘‘identity fraud, illegal working, organised crime and terrorism and crack down on those trying to abuse position of trust and will help people to prove they are who they are’’. It is important to note that such issues have been worrying many during the past few years.

It is estimated that around 500,000 to nearly a million illegal immigrants are living in the country most of them reportedly concentrated in London and the south-east. Others argue that such illegality is not fair to law abiding individuals who respect all the rules.

Many of these illegal migrants from around the world lived in the United Kingdom for a very long time with their families and some experts suggested that deporting them would not only pain and suffering but might also break up families.

In fact those making their case for an amnesty noted that deporting people living here for too long would be a ‘‘moral hazard’’ and would be ‘‘counterproductive’’. On the other hand many others believe that as a point of principle, ‘‘no law-breaking should be rewarded’’. 

Experts in the area of immigration revealed that turning a blind eye to illegal immigration is ‘‘not helpful’’ and could even be worse, but at the same time making it impossible for illegal immigrants to regularise their status ‘‘could equally be unhelpful’’.

Migration-watch argues that an amnesty would be a ‘‘clear admission of failure and an invitation to others to try their luck’’ to illegally stay in the country. It is estimated that amnesty in Britain may cost the taxpayer at least £500million and combination with other factors hence the opposition for amnesty.

Downing Street has denied that any such plans of amnesty were on the way yet thereby throwing the issue in further doubt. Nonetheless while the likes of Migration-Watch are opposing any form of amnesty, the illegal migrants hope and pray that those supporting and lobbing in their favour are victorious. Or else they will continue to live in limbo-the debate continues.

The National Malaria Control Program last Sunday concluded a six –day intensive house to house indoor residual spraying campaign in the district of Foni.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Health Matters shortly after the campaign, Balla Kandeh the Senior Program officer said the exercise was jointly funded by the government of The Gambia, the Taiwanese Embassy and The President of the Republic Dr Yahya Jammeh. He described the exercise as successful noting that the communities in Foni were very co-operative with the spraymen.

During the exercise over 300 spraymen were involved drawn from NYSS and the Department of State for Health.

Aziz Ndaw, a resident of Bwiam, said prior to the spraying Mosquitoes used to disturb his family but a day after his house was sprayed he was able to sleep well without having any mosquito bites.

Amie Jarjue, a native of Ballen, commended government for coming to their aid adding that the indoor residual spraying is a good strategy to eradicate malaria in The Gambia.

Saihou Nyassi of Kampan appealed to government to do the exercise every six months.

For his part Alhagie Sankareh, senior administrator with the Regional Health Team Western, stated that before the operation all the Alkalo’s in Foni were sensitised. The Indoor residual spraying was first piloted in Janjanbureh before Banjul.

Mr. Sankareh stated that the spraymen were deployed in 11 sites in Foni noting that their target is the Kombos where they want to spend 20 working days. According to him, all this depends entirely on the availability of funds in order to carry on the exercise.

He said the Department of State for Health is working very hard to secure additional funds to cover the remaining sites in the country

He commended the youth of NYSS for their dedication and commitment during the exercise.

Lamin Ceesay, district supervisor Foni Kansala, said the exercise was successful in his area. He added that this is one of the biggest exercises carried out by the National Malaria Control Programme and appealed to DOSH to begin the operation around April and May before the beginning of the rainy season depending on the availability of funds.

The Chief of Janjangbureh district, Seyfo Bakary Jam Jawo, has urged cattle, sheep and goat owners in his district to keep their livestock away from people’s farms. Chief Jam Jawo made these remarks while passing judgement on one Ebrima Jawo a herdsman who was found guilty of letting his cattle graze on the presidents rice farm in Janjangbureh. According to him, farming is very difficult and animal owners should respect farmers as their survival depends on farming. “How would you feel as a farmer if somebody brought their animals and let them graze on your farm?” he asked. Seyfo Jawo appealed to livestock owners to respect farmers and take their animals to non-farming areas to avoid their animals feeding on people’s farms.

He revealed that many people are trying to make a living from farming and cannot afford to suffer the kinds of losses involved when animals destroy crops.

Sating that he will compromise with nobody on the issue, he finally called on all cattle, sheep and goat owners to adhere to the rules and regulations of the local authorities in order to prevent themselves suffering punishment and embarrassment.

The NGO-CSO Network on tobacco control in The Gambia is currently holding a three-day strategic planning workshop for its members at the President’s International Awards Hall in Bakau.

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of the Network, Sambujang Conteh, said the idea of creating such an institution emerged following the recognition of the fact that no single entity can win the war against tobacco. He noted that since the tobacco industry is powerful and well established, coupled with the popularity of tobacco products, a united force is needed to confront it.

He stated that the NGO- CSO network on tobacco control in The Gambia has a vision of transforming The Gambia into a tobacco free society saying, “this trouble of tobacco is everywhere in our society. Even those who abuse or use it agree that it’s harmful to their health but they cannot drop the habit of tobacco consumption.”

Mr. Conteh disclosed that during the three days participants will validate the results of their four months of consultations in developing a comprehensive strategic document which, according to him, will effectively guide and support their process of achieving the WHO Framework convention on tobacco control.

For his part, Momodou Gassama, health information and promotion officer (WHO office), said tobacco is currently the second major cause of death in the world adding that it kills one in ten people globally. This accounts for five million deaths every year.

He stated that tobacco accounts for more deaths than malaria, maternal conditions and injuries combined.

Other speakers at the occasion were Hon Adama Cham, Mr. Adeola Akinremi, Alh. Cham and DPS at the Department of State for Health Alh Saihou Janneh.

From today all highly skilled workers, entrepreneurs and investors wanting to go to the UK will be able to apply for their UK visa under a new Australian style points based system. Under the new system, applicants will need to amass points to satisfy the visa service that they can make a positive contribution to the UK. Points will be awarded for objective criteria such as qualifications, previous earnings, age and UK experience. Only those with enough points will be able to get a visa.

The system replaces the two staged Highly Skilled Migrant programme with a single application that is far easier to use. Applicants are able to calculate how many points they will be awarded, and therefore if they are likely to be issued a visa, before making an application. Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said, “The introduction of Tier 1 of the Points Based System is good for those wanting to work in Britain and good for the UK economy. We are clear that we will not tolerate any abuse of our systems. That is why we have introduced fingerprint technology to check all visa applicants, a new force to police our borders and new rules that ban anyone using false documents or deception from the UK for up to ten years.”

Today’s changes introduce the first tier of the points based system. Other tiers for students, skilled workers with a job offer and temporary workers such as musicians, actors and sportsmen will both be introduced over the next year.

Prospective applicants can use a self-assessment points calculator which can be accessed at the following address http://www.biahomeoffice.qov.uk/pointscalculator. This will allow applicants to determine whether they have enough points to make a successful application.

Further information on the points based system can be found at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk or www.ukvisas.gov.uk.

Well done to the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme (NLTP) at the Department of State for Health for organising, and the Global Fund Grant for financing, the two-day training course for health journalists on the prevention and control of tuberculosis. The importance of such a workshop cannot be overemphasised.

Speaking on behalf of permanent secretary at the department, the chief nursing officer Ismalia Njie said that approximately 2.4 million new cases of TB occur each year and that there are 500,000 deaths. This is a very serious situation and one that we must continue to fight tirelessly. Mr. Njie went on to reveal that while Africa accounts for 11% of the world’s population, it bears 25% of the global TB burden. This is a shocking figure and must surely spur us on to even greater action. The diagnosis and treatment of TB in The Gambia is provided free of charge to all patients regardless of nationality. This shows that the government is clearly committed to the containment and eradication of the disease. This commitment must continue and measures such as those mentioned above must be expanded, honed and perfected.

It was also very heartening to note that Mr. Njie emphasised the important role that journalists play in society. He said that this is why the Department of State was involving them in the fight against this disease. This is absolutely correct. The role of journalists is an essential one and they are a vital part of a healthy democracy where the public are well informed and educated on such serious issues as TB.

This kind of co-operation between the fourth estate and government shows the great benefits that the general public enjoys from a free and independent press. The press and government must continue in their partnership to help The Gambia on the road to development. Together we can work towards the complete eradication of TB and other diseases such as malaria and HIV and as a result bring wholesale improvements to the lives of every Gambian.

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Lamin appeared before the Brikama Magistrates’ Court for being allegedly found in possession of 31kg of marijuana for purpose of trafficking.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was remanded in custody, pending the resumption of his case for trial proper.

Musa’s case was in February of this year adjourned to today following his failure to provide witnesses on seven consecutive times.

He was arrested in Tallinding ‘in possession’ of 132kg and 500g of marijuana, allegations he denies.