In June 2024, at the 4th Review Conference of UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and International Tracing Instrument (PoA/ITI RevCon4), States decided to establish an Open-Ended Technical Expert Group (OETEG) to develop recommendations to ensure the full and effective implementation of the PoA and ITI in light of developments in the manufacturing, technology and design of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
The expert group will meet during the 9th and 10th PoA/ITI biennial (BMS0/10) meetings of States in 2026 and 2028 to consider opportunities to strengthen PoA and ITI implementation. They will also determine ways to overcome challenges posed by new and emerging developments, in particular related to the use of polymers, modular weapons, and 3D-printing. In addition, the expert group will propose concrete recommendations for strengthening international cooperation and assistance in this area.
To support substantive preparations for the OETEG, UNIDIR will engage partners and experts to prepare a series of three online briefings for the diplomatic community that will be involved in the expert meetings during BMS9 and BMS10. Drawing on the online briefings, UNIDIR will prepare a short insight report, to support preparations for the expert group meetings.
Agenda
The online briefings will introduce key technological developments relevant to the OETEG preparations, presenting challenges for PoA/ITI implementation as well as practical measures to strengthen effective implementation. The three briefings will focus on the following thematic areas.
Briefing 1 | Use of polymer in manufacturing of SALW and marking, record-keeping and tracing for modular weapons
As early as 2011, States have pointed out gaps in the ITI regarding polymer frames and modular SALW designs. This first briefing will introduce participants to the issues related to durable and recoverable markings of polymer frames, and the challenges associated with marking, record-keeping, and tracing of SALW that use a modular design. It will also outline current good practice adopted by SALW manufacturers and discuss potential steps that the OETEG could consider.
Speakers
Introduction to the tracing challenges posed by polymer frames and modular SALW designs
- Paul Amoroso, Small Arms Survey
Recommendations on how to address existing gaps
- Denis Jacqmin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium
Briefing 2 | Craft Production and 3D printing of SALW: Key policy implications and effective measures
This briefing will provide an overview of key developments in the space of non-industrial SALW production – from more traditional cases of artisanal production to latest evolutions in the 3D printing domain. It will consider key challenges posed by these weapons’ proliferation to arms control and relevant policy frameworks – particularly on implications for the UN PoA and ITI. It will also offer a forward-looking perspective, by discussing concrete examples of effective measures that the international community can leverage to address this growing issue.
Briefing 3 | New and emerging technologies to help counter diversion
Despite the ability of technology to assist in safeguarding the transportation and storage of various goods, the uptake of new and emerging technologies to strengthen SALW control can appear slow due to security concerns and financial constraints. UNIDIR research has indicated that another factor for limited use of new and emerging technologies to support PoA/ITI implementation relates to limited knowledge on available technologies and their strengths and weaknesses for SALW control. Therefore, this briefing will provide an overview of how emerging technologies are or can be used to prevent and detect efforts to divert SALW.
Further details on briefing 2 and 3 will be added in due course.
When and where
The event will take place over three separate days, online via Zoom.
- Briefing 1: 29 October 2025, 10 AM EDT / 3 PM CET
- Briefing 2: 11 December 2025
- Briefing 3: February 2026
Participation
Participation is upon invitation only. Representatives and technical experts of Member State delegations to the UN based in New York and Geneva will receive an invitation through their Permanent Mission. A limited number of experts from academia, civil society, industry, and international and regional organizations working in the field of conventional weapons and the intersection with new technologies might also be invited.
Further information
For further information or questions, please contact cap-unidir@un.org.