Article 11: Protection of Women in Armed Conflicts 63. Despite the post-genocide challenges of reconstruction and rehabilitation, the Government of Rwanda has progressively reduced military spending to increase other budget areas like agriculture, health and education. It has also rather invested a lot of effort in eliminating the possession of small arms and light weapons in the population. 64. The Rwanda National Police has a dedicated unit for the control of small arms and their destruction. Rwanda is a member of the Regional Center on small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA), under which member states fight against the proliferation and trafficking of illicit small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa. 65. Rwanda currently chairs the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) and has signed the Arms Trade Treaty which “obligates member states to monitor arms exports and ensure that weapons do not cross existing arms embargoes or end up being used for human rights abuses, including terrorism”44.The National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission continues to receive, train and reintegrate ex-combatants, armed groups and their families, returning especially from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 66. Rwandan women in civil society have been active in promoting peaceful resolution of conflict in the Great lakes Region, including chairing the Regional Women’s Forum, an important organization for the implementation of the ICGLR pact on peace, stability and development and to follow up the implementation of the gender dimension of the pact. 67. Women were also among the most active in sensitizing remaining Rwandan refugees to repatriate voluntarily. They are also very actively engaged in other institutions and mechanisms which have been established to promote non-violent conflict resolution including: the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Commission on the Fight 44 ATT Wikipedia. Page 86 of 105