The News (Nigeria) - AAGM November 7, 2007 Wednesday Source: All Africa November 7, 2007 Wednesday SURVEY ON SMALL ARMS, LIGHT WEAPONS LAUNCHED The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA) officially launches the ECOSAP-UNDP sponsored Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) survey in Liberia. The first phase of the survey (Assessment) begins Wednesday and ends on 15 November 2007. The assessment team comprises of members of civil society organizations working in the area of small arms and light weapons and staff of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms. According to a release, the survey is a nation-wide effort. The survey will also be part of a nation wide public awareness campaign that will involve the use of local radio and television stations, (where available) in all the Counties. This survey is also been conducted in other West African States. The aim is to determine the exact nature of the problems small arms and light weapons pose in the sub-region. It is essential to Liberia, because during the civil war there was a proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which continue to pose danger to the lives of citizens and the already fragile peace in our Country. The Commission is encouraging the public to work along with the survey team and to provide needed information on small arms and light weapons hidden in the communities. By so doing this will help the team gather the information that is needed for the control of small arms and promote peace and security. LiNCSA actively began its work last year with a general mandate to formulate and ensure the implementation of policies and measures aimed at addressing the problems of small arms proliferation and illicit trafficking. The Commission also has as its mandate to coordinate and monitor all private and public sector efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate the proliferation and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons within and across the borders of Liberia. "LiNCSA is currently chaired by Conmany B. Wesseh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation and its membership is drawn from government agencies and civil society organizations," the release added SURVEY ON SMALL ARMS, LIGHT WEAPONS LAUNCHED The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA) officially launches the ECOSAP-UNDP sponsored Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) survey in Liberia. The first phase of the survey (Assessment) begins Wednesday and ends on 15 November 2007. The assessment team comprises of members of civil society organizations working in the area of small arms and light weapons and staff of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms. According to a release, the survey is a nation-wide effort. The survey will also be part of a nation wide public awareness campaign that will involve the use of local radio and television stations, (where available) in all the Counties. This survey is also been conducted in other West African States. The aim is to determine the exact nature of the problems small arms and light weapons pose in the sub-region. It is essential to Liberia, because during the civil war there was a proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which continue to pose danger to the lives of citizens and the already fragile peace in our Country. The Commission is encouraging the public to work along with the survey team and to provide needed information on small arms and light weapons hidden in the communities. By so doing this will help the team gather the information that is needed for the control of small arms and promote peace and security. LiNCSA actively began its work last year with a general mandate to formulate and ensure the implementation of policies and measures aimed at addressing the problems of small arms proliferation and illicit trafficking. The Commission also has as its mandate to coordinate and monitor all private and public sector efforts to prevent, combat and eradicate the proliferation and the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons within and across the borders of Liberia. "LiNCSA is currently chaired by Conmany B. Wesseh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation and its membership is drawn from government agencies and civil society organizations," the release added