Austria pledges funds to UNODA

UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (UPI) -- The U.N. Office for Disarmament Affairs says it has been pledged more than $150,000 for a project to halt the trafficking of arms in the Asia-Pacific region.

UNODA says that the pledge of money is from Austria. The country recently announced the contribution of approximately $154,000 in a show of support for the UNODA program that aims to stop illicit small arms and light weapons trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region, the United Nations reported.

The money will go to assist the U.N. Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific, which is relocating to Kathmandu, Nepal. Officials say the center, which covers 43 countries, requires $2.2 million for its projects and relies on voluntary contributions.

The center recently announced plans to hold "three sub-regional workshops to boost the capacities of the region's countries to tackle the challenge by strengthening legislation and administrative procedures; improving national licensing control systems; and promoting information-sharing and judicial cooperation among states," the release said.