UN hears of campaigns against small arms by West African faith communities

Christiane Agboton-Johnson of Senegal (left) and Florella Hazeley of Sierra Leone at the CWS UN Office. They attended the UN conference on small arms. Photo: L. Selde/CWS

July 11, 2006

A two-week UN conference examining progress in stemming the illicit trade in small arms ended July 7.

Secretary-general of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches of West Africa Baffour Amoa reported on the experience of faith communities in the region. Mr. Amoa, a member of the Church World Service Education & Advocacy Program committee, chairs the West Africa Action Network on Small Arms.

Florella Hazeley of the National Council of Churches of Sierra Leone served as a member of the official governmental delegation from her country. She shared her country’s experience as it continues to rebuild following years of war. One project undertaken there encourages the use of toys other than toy weapons, sensitizing educators and parents alike to the need to help refocus young minds on other ways to play in this nation which has been so devastated by fighting.

President of the Movement Against Small Arms in West Africa Christiane Agboton-Johnson works with churches in Senegal to build peace and stability as the country moves towards elections.