1. South Sudan National Statement at the Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration
on Armed Violence and Development held in Nairobi Kenya 26 – 27 November 2014 By John
Chiek Bum
Mr. President, at the outset allow me on behalf of South Sudan Delegation to congratulate you on your
nomination as the President of the 2014 Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed
Violence and Development; Iam sure with your wisdom and able leadership, you will successfully sail our
boat out of this stormy sea.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, on behalf of the Republic of South Sudan allow me to thank the
Government of Kenya, the Government of Switzerland, the United Nations Development Programme and
the Secretariat of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development for the invitation and
facilitation extended my county to attend this important Regional Review Conference.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the Republic of South Sudan is founded on the principles of
justice; equality; respect for human dignity; advancement of human rights and fundamental freedoms; it is
governed on the basis of decentralized democratic system and is an all-embracing homeland for its people.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the end of the twenty one year civil war has left an estimate of
one point nine to three point two million small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons;
four hundred thousand to six hundred thousand are believed to be in possession of civilians and became
significant threat to security of our citizens.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, to address the root causes of communal conflicts and insecurity
against security; development; stability; peace and human safety. The Government of the Republic of South
Sudan established the Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control; a national institution
mandated to lead and coordinate national policies on community security, proliferation and the misuse of
small arms and light weapons.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the role of the Bureau is not only to lead and coordinate national
policies, but also to oversee the process of signing, acceding, ratification and implementation of regional
and international treaties, conventions, protocols, declarations, agreements and charters on community
security and small arms control.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the Bureau has carried out community consultations in fifty five
counties; implemented conflict sensitive development projects; supported the law enforcement agencies at
county level; undertook peace building measures; designed the national policy on Small Arms and Light
Weapons Control 2012; drafted the National Firearms Control Bill 2014; formulated the National Civilian
Disarmament Strategy 2014; mapped and analyzed all regional and international treaties, conventions,
protocols, declarations, agreements and charters on community Security and Small Arms and Control and
categorized them into high, medium and low priorities.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, shortly after the independence on the 9th
, of July 2011, South
Sudan became member of Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA) region; the (RECSA) Secretariat
supported the Bureau with three electronic Gun Marking Machines and trained twenty one Arms Marking
Technicians; the Bureau have already marked forty seven thousand one hundred different types of guns
belonging to Police Service and strive to mark all guns belong to National Security and Armed Forces; have
a plan for equal division of the three Gun Marking Machines between the Army, Security, Police and there
shall be established three separate Data Bases.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the Government and the people of the Republic of South Sudan
are fully committed; willing and ready to fight against the proliferation and the misuse of small arms and
light weapons and Armed Violence against Development.
Mr. President, distinguished participants, the Ministry of Interior and Wildlife Conservation of the
Republic of South Sudan is processing accession; signing and ratification of the Nairobi Protocol; the
United Nations Programme of Action, the Arms Trade Treaty and other important Declarations including
the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development to expedite their ratification.
Thank you, Mr. President