Maat and the GCLA are organizing a meeting with stakeholders, hosted by the Geneva Center for Security Policy on Non-State Actors, the Future of International Security & the Implementation of International Disarmament Agreements

Ayman Okeil: Human rights and sustainable development are absent in conflict countries

Nourhan Mustafa: We stress for effective implementation of international agreements and the protection of civilians

Carlos Lopez: There is a need to establish a framework to regulate the work of PMSC

Antoine Pierret: Nonexistence of accountability mechanism impedes the achievement of international peace and security

Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights organized an informal meeting with stakeholders in cooperation with the Global Alliance for Arms Control and hosted by the Geneva Center for Security Policy in Geneva under the title “Non-State Actors, the Future of International Security and the Implementation of International Disarmament Agreements”, in the presence of a number From diplomatic missions, international organizations and civil society organizations in Geneva, including representatives of the United Nations, the meeting included discussions on state responsibility, private military actors, civil society participation, and the implementation of legal instruments.

In this context, Ayman Okeil , a human rights expert and head of the Maat Foundation, stressed that the illegal transfer of weapons in conflict countries is the biggest challenge to achieving global security and regional stability, as it leads to exacerbation of conflicts, high rates of violence, violation of human rights, endangers the lives of civilians and disrupts development and peace efforts.

Okeil added in his speech that during the period 2020 to 2023, shipments of Iranian weapons that were on their way to support the Houthi militia in Yemen were confiscated by sea, and the number reached 8 shipments. Information was also published about Iran burying weapons, ammunition and drones in humanitarian aid shipments to the earthquake victims. The Syrian human rights expert also confirmed that the military investments and funding of the superpowers, including China, Russia, America and others, are the reason for the increase in conflict in the African coast and the Middle East.

While Nourhan Mostafa explained; Director of the International Humanitarian Law and Disarmament Unit at the Maat Foundation, we seek, through this meeting, to facilitate communication and cooperation between the various stakeholders to promote disarmament and non-proliferation. Emphasizing the need for effective cooperation between stakeholders today to implement international agreements and protect civilians in armed conflicts.

Dr. Carlos Lopez referred to the need to develop a framework to regulate the activities of private military security companies. He also touched on explaining the relationship between the work of private security and military companies and the illegal transfer of weapons to areas of armed conflict and conflict-affected areas, describing it as a complex relationship, where private security and military companies play a decisive role. In the failure to enforce the law and this would affect the protection of human rights and the achievement of security.

Dr. Antoine Pierret indicated that civil society organizations play an important role in activities such as training private military and security companies on human rights and international humanitarian law. Achieving international peace and security

During the discussion, the participants stressed the need to enhance security and peace at the international, regional and local levels and that it is necessary for all stakeholders to cooperate.

The meeting recommended the necessity of issuing reports periodically to monitor cases of illegal transfer, as well as coordinating informal meetings with stakeholders, in cooperation with the United Nations, in order to raise awareness and achieve best practices.