ATT Secretariat Recognizes Sierra Leone As Regional Champion For ATT Reporting In Africa 2023

Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, February 23, 2024 - The Program Manager of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition (SLeCAA), Mr. Wilphred Samuel Taylor, representing Sierra Leone, presented Sierra Leone's experience on Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Reporting to the Working Group on Transparency and Reporting (WGTR) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Having signed and ratified the ATT on 25th September 2013 and 12th August 2014, respectively, Sierra Leone became the 43rd country to sign and among the first 50 to ratify the ATT before its entry into force on 24th December 2014. Under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone has remained steadfast in its commitment to the ATT, consistently fulfilling reporting and financial obligations.

Recognizing Sierra Leone's dedication, the ATT Secretariat declared Sierra Leone the Regional Champion for ATT Reporting in Africa in 2023, highlighting its continuous commitment by submitting the 2023 Annual Report, making it one of two countries to have done so ahead of February Working Group meeting.

The Program Manager, Mr. Taylor, emphasized that Sierra Leone has had its inspiration from Article 13 of the ATT and had put in place the adequate legal and institutional framework that supports the process of data collection on the import of conventional arms. Regardless of the challenge of inadequate funds for ATT implementation, Mr. Taylor assured the ATT Secretariat of Sierra Leone’s continuous commitment to meeting its reporting and financial obligations to the ATT.

Established by the Second Conference of States Parties to the ATT in 2016, the WGTR is responsible for assisting states meet their reporting obligations providing them with templates and instruments of assistance, and presents draft reports to the Conference of States Parties.

For Media Inquiries:
Mohamed Sheriff
Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
+41791756648
Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch