Drawing on data from 13 RECSA Member States, the study establishes 2005 and 2025 baselines across 16 thematic areas. The review finds clear progress in the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol. Member States have reinforced national legislation and established transfer control systems, while improving stockpile management, weapons marking and record-keeping. Controls over civilian possession and commercial actors have also expanded, alongside growing institutional and enforcement capacity. Yet implementation remains uneven, with persistent weaknesses in legislation, cross-border cooperation, civilian licensing, border control, tracing, record-keeping, and the collection and destruction of illicit and surplus SALW.

The report recommends that RECSA Member States undertake a review of the Nairobi Protocol to strengthen existing provisions, align it with global and African frameworks, and address new and emerging threats. By identifying effective practices and common challenges, this scorecard provides an analytical foundation for amending the Nairobi Protocol, revising its Best Practice Guidelines and developing a five-year action plan, which will in turn equip States with updated guidance for effective SALW control.

Citation: Ruben Nicolin, Lillian Wamuyu, Benjamin Agage and Paul Holtom. The Nairobi Protocol on Small Arms and Light Weapons at 20: A Regional Implementation Scorecard. Geneva, Nairobi: UNIDIR, RECSA, 2026. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/ASC/03.

The post The Nairobi Protocol on Small Arms and Light Weapons at 20: A Regional Implementation Scorecard first appeared on UNIDIR.

After a decade of reporting under the ATT, how much transparency exists regarding transfers of SALW? What has changed in practice? This policy brief examines reporting trends for the period 2015–2024 and assesses what the available data reveal about how ATT States Parties implement the Treaty’s obligations.

It highlights both the progress and the worrying trends in State reporting on international transfers of SALW and explores how additional national reporting practices, such as information on brokering authorisations and licence denials, could further strengthen understanding of the global authorised SALW trade. The analysis aims to provide food for thought ahead of the March 2026 meetings of the ATT Working Group on Transparency and Reporting.

Citation: Lara Maria Guedes Gonçalves Costa and Paul Holtom. Arms Trade Treaty Reporting on Small Arms Transfers: What Have We Learned? Geneva: UNIDIR, 2026

The post Arms Trade Treaty Reporting on Small Arms Transfers: What Have We Learned? first appeared on UNIDIR.

Against this background, UNIDIR, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa organized in 2023 a regional seminar on preventing violent extremism (PVE) and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) in West Africa. The seminar called for adopting an integrated approach to both issues and recommended a study to support this paradigm shift.

This empirical study examines an integrated approach to address the illicit supply of weapons and the root causes of violence by analyzing intersections between PVE and WAM across policy frameworks, institutions and operational practices. It identifies existing good examples of integrating PVE and WAM and explores promising, context-specific opportunities in the region. The study derives practical steps to support States, regional and continental organizations, UN entities and other stakeholders in operationalizing such an integrated approach in West Africa and beyond.

Citation: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa, and Peace and Human Rights Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, “Integrating the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Illicit Weapons Proliferation in West Africa: A Way Forward”, Geneva, 2026, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/PACAV/02 

The post Integrating the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Illicit Weapons Proliferation in West Africa: A Way Forward first appeared on UNIDIR.

This report analyses key trends in the use of UASs by NSAGs in Myanmar, with a particular focus on post-coup developments. It aims to provide researchers, policymakers and practitioners with an overview of how these systems have been adopted and employed by various groups across the country, and of their implications for evolving conflict dynamics. It examines the types of NSAGs deploying UASs, the geographical distribution of incidents, as well as the primary targets and impacts of their operations. The report also explores trends in the craft-production, modification and weaponization of these systems, identifying the key factors enabling the rapid adoption and diffusion of UAS capabilities among NSAGs, including the widespread availability of commercial components, access to open-source knowledge, decentralized knowledge-sharing networks and improvised production practices.

By examining the Myanmar case, the report provides insights into the expanding role of uncrewed systems in contemporary armed conflicts. It highlights the challenges that the growing development and use of these systems may pose for existing arms control frameworks, as well as for international security and stability more broadly.

Citation: Joshua Angelo Estrada Bata and Bárbara Morais Figueiredo, “The use of uncrewed aerial systems by non-State armed groups: Exploring trends in Myanmar”. Geneva: UNIDIR, 2026. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/26/ERC/01

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By mid-2025, 18 States – including 14 in Africa – had assessed and made efforts to strengthen their national frameworks governing the management of weapons and ammunition through their life cycle using UNIDIR’s reference methodology for national WAM baseline assessments. This methodology identifies key functional areas for WAM. These range from establishing national coordination mechanisms, strategies and legal frameworks to strengthening controls over transfers, manage stockpiles, improvements to accountability through marking and record-keeping systems, dealing with illicit arms and ammunition, and final disposal.

This is the fourth annual update by UNIDIR to recognize the progress made to strengthen WAM policies and practices by those 14 African States. Information analysed for this update was collected primarily through meetings and interviews with national focal points and lead authorities, regional organizations, United Nations entities, and expert non-governmental organizations between mid-2024 and mid-2025. This annual WAM update provides an analysis of progress across the regional baseline of policy and practice, and highlights persistent, context-specific and emerging challenges. The update presents national examples of practices and activities that have helped overcome some of these challenges, as well as examples of progress that is being made in strengthening national WAM frameworks in often challenging environments.

The exchange of good practices and lessons learned in strengthening WAM policy and practice in Africa seeks to enhance the knowledge of States, regional organizations and international partners on ways to establish and implement comprehensive national and regional frameworks governing the full lifecycle of arms and ammunition.

UNIDIR encourages the community of States, regional organizations and relevant international partners to consult its WAM country insight and annual update series as a useful reference to support the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for future WAM projects.

Citation: Theò Bajon,“Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2025 Update”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/10.

The post Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2025 Update first appeared on UNIDIR.

The issue brief addresses existing discussions and good practices on end-use/r controls and how ATT States Parties use end-use/r controls, including documentation, within their own diversion-prevention measures. It also aims to improve understanding of underutilized potential and to identify options that could be pursued to strengthen control systems in order to more effectively implement the ATT’s provisions on diversion prevention and related efforts.

This brief is intended to inform the ongoing exchange of national implementation practices within the ATT, specifically the discussion on national import controls, and future deliberations on intersecting issues.

This is the sixth in a series of ATT issue briefs released as part of joint research by the research consortium composed of UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research and the Stimson Center. Established in 2019, the consortium provides research, technical advice, expertise and tools to enhance knowledge of the ATT and facilitate dialogue among States, strengthen shared understanding of the impact of the treaty in addressing diversion risks, and identify avenues to promote effective policies and practices under the treaty.

Citation: Paula Soumaya Domit, Rachel Stohl, Natalie Bramlett, Rob Hunter-Perkins, and Ishtiaq Khan (2025), “The Arms Trade Treaty Preventing Diversion Through End-Use and End-User Controls”, issue brief No. 6, UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research, and Stimson Center. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/08. 

The post The Arms Trade Treaty: Preventing Diversion Through End-Use and End-User Controls first appeared on UNIDIR.

This publication identifies potential actions that would align victim assistance with each of the four pillars of the WPS Agenda. It draws on a literature review and analysis of ongoing victim assistance programmes to show that greater synergy between these policy areas is not only possible but highly desirable, as it can reinforce the implementation of both the WPS Agenda and the APMBC.

Citation: Bénédicte Santoire, “New Directions for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention: Connecting Victim Assistance with the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025.

The post New Directions for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention: Connecting Victim Assistance with the Women, Peace and Security Agenda first appeared on UNIDIR.

This country insight presents the main findings of the WAM follow-up assessment conducted in March 2023 by the Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, through the National Commission for the Fight against the Proliferation and Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons, in cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and UNIDIR. The publication draws from the comprehensive follow-up assessment report shared by UNIDIR in cooperation with ECOWAS to the Government of Côte d’Ivoire and sheds light on the progress made since the initial 2016 baseline assessment (last country insight report). It includes information on existing institutional and operational capacities, policies and procedures, as well as challenges faced by Ivorian authorities at strategic and operational levels and options for further strengthening the national framework governing through-life management of weapons and ammunition in the Ivory coast.

UNIDIR encourages States, regional and sub-regional organisations, and relevant international partners to consult this Côte d’Ivoire WAM country insight, as well as its country insight series and annual updates. These resources can serve as a basis for strengthening WAM policies and practices at different levels and for planning, implementing and evaluating future projects related to WAM and areas in Côte d’Ivoire as well as other African States respectively.

Citation: Theò Bajon.”Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/WAM/06. 

The post Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight: Republic of Côte d’Ivoire first appeared on UNIDIR.

Conflict early-warning efforts need access to all relevant data that can improve their performance. Data on flows of conventional arms and ammunition could be relevant for such efforts: weapons flows into unstable regions have long been considered as a possible signal of a future outbreak, escalation or relapse of armed conflict. However, arms flow data is only used sporadically for early warning, and its potential remains underexplored.

To address this gap, the UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research (CAR), the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the Violence and Impacts Early-Warning System (VIEWS) launched the initiative ‘Building Bridges and Incubating Ideas for Stronger Conflict Prevention: Harnessing Arms and Ammunition Flow Data for Early Warning’ to foster use of arms flow data for more effective early warning.

This insight distills the key takeaways and pathways for action that emerged from expert exchanges within this joint initiative.

Visit the Arms Flows and Early Warning Dashboard for a mapping of available arms and ammunition flows data, as well as early warning initiatives.

Citation: Joshua Angelo Bata, Matilde Vecchioni, and Ursign Hofmann (2025) “Pathways to Action: Harnessing Arms Flow Data for Conflict Early Warning, Insights from 2024 expert exchanges”, UNIDIR, CAR, PRIO, VIEWS. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/PACAV/07.

The post Pathways to Action: Harnessing Arms Flow Data for Conflict Early Warning first appeared on UNIDIR.

This Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) issue brief is intended to support the efforts of ATT States Parties to implement the treaty’s brokering and related provisions. Since the treaty’s entry into force, no dedicated dialogue has occurred under the ATT framework on the regulation and control of brokers and brokering in conventional arms. A number of questions, knowledge gaps and key issues have thus remained unresolved since the negotiation of the treaty. This issue brief addresses some of these gaps by identifying key issues that merit further consideration by States and other interested parties. It is intended to provide a basis for discussions on the complex issue of regulating arms brokering by the ATT Working Group on Effective Treaty Implementation.

This is the fifth in a series of ATT issue briefs released as part of joint research by the research consortium composed of UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research and the Stimson Center. The research consortium, established in 2019, provides research, technical advice, expertise and tools to States and other interested parties to enhance knowledge and facilitate dialogue among states, strengthen shared understanding of the impact of the ATT in addressing risks of diversion and identify avenues to further promote effective policies and practises under the treaty.

Citation: Hardy Giezendanner, Anna Mensah-Sackey, Ishtiaq Khan, Rob Hunter-Perkins, Rachel Stohl, “The Arms Trade Treaty: Regulating Brokering to Reduce the Risk of Diversion”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ASC/04.

The post The Arms Trade Treaty: Regulating Brokering to Reduce the Risk of Diversion first appeared on UNIDIR.

This UNIDIR research examines trends in the development and use of UMS between 2019 and 2024, identifying 60 UMS programmes across 17 countries that have utilized a wide range of systems. More than 40 attacks took place during the same period, with a notable rise since 2023.

The United Nations Register of Conventional Arms could play an important role in enhancing mutual trust and confidence between States if it were to contain information on international transfers and acquisitions of armed UMS. Due to their technical characteristics, however, most UMS fall outside the Register’s reporting categories, therefore remaining unreported.

This research puts forward four options for consideration by the Group of Governmental Experts in 2024-2025 on the continuing operation and future development of the Register. These options could also be considered by States participating in other multilateral instruments that contribute to increasing transparency in international transfers and acquisitions.

Citation: Anabel García García, Sarah Grand-Clément, Paul Holtom, “Changing Tides in Maritime Warfare: Closing the Reporting Gap on Uncrewed Maritime Systems in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/ERC/03.

The post Changing Tides in Maritime Warfare: Closing the Reporting Gap on Uncrewed Maritime Systems in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms first appeared on UNIDIR.

If men are at the centre of the global armed violence epidemic, it clearly has something to do with their gender. The report explains that when frustrated young men in contexts of persistent poverty gain easy access to small arms and ammunition, it creates a significant risk of an epidemic of lethal violence. This prompts the question: What work is being undertaken with men using a masculinities focus to prevent armed violence? The answer, in short, is none. Efforts to reduce armed violence that do not consider masculinities will only have a limited effect.

The report suggests that greater debate about this issue is required and that the United Nations can lead progress by developing initiatives in collaboration with Member States, academia and civil society partners. However, to achieve this goal, greater advocacy, political support and funding are vital. 

Citation: Adam Baird, “No man’s land? Focusing on men to reduce global armed violence”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2025. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/25/PACAV/01.

The post No Man’s Land? Focusing on Men to Reduce Global Armed Violence first appeared on UNIDIR.

Project D-TECT consists of two consecutive phases. The first phase was to identify existing technologies that could be suited to countering the diversion of conventional weapon systems and develop a framework that makes it possible to identify and assess technologies used to counter diversion. The second phase is to assess, refine and validate the list of identified technologies in relation to specific types of conventional weapon systems.

This current paper is a product of the second phase of the research. It focuses on examining the extent to which different technologies could help counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons and the barriers to their implementation. Based on a series of stakeholder engagements, this paper examines the relevance and applicability of 14 technologies to support or strengthen efforts to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW). 

All 14 technologies were assessed by the stakeholders who took part in the research to have potential relevance in helping to counter SALW diversion. However, the relevance of the technologies did differ depending on the life cycle stage (i.e., pre-export, transfer or post-delivery) and whether they were most suitable to helping with prevention, detection or identification. The findings also show that the adoption of technology will also necessitate overcoming a number of systemic barriers. As a result, the paper provides a non-exhaustive overview of possible options which could be undertaken to overcome or mitigate these barriers.

The output from the first phase of the project is available here.

Citation: Sarah Grand-Clément, “Assessing technologies to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons”, UNIDIR and the Flemish Peace Institute, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/ERC/09

The post Assessing Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons first appeared on UNIDIR.

In June 2023, UNIDIR initiated research examining craft production of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The objective of this research is to increase knowledge and understanding of craft-produced SALW and raise awareness of the challenges for preventing and addressing their illicit proliferation, trafficking and misuse. This report aspires to be a first step towards a global and more comprehensive dialogue on the issue of craft-produced SALW. The findings presented in it draw primarily on UNIDIR’s “Global survey on addressing the global craft production of SALW”, which was distributed to all United Nations Member States throughout 2023 and in early 2024. A total of 80 countries from all regions of the world contributed to this study by completing the survey.

This report explores key types of craft-produced weapon and manufacturing techniques, and profiles the main actors involved in the production and use of these weapons. It also delves into the existing international, regional, and national frameworks that regulate illicit manufacturing and address, most often implicitly, the issue of craft production. Finally, it considers key challenges to efforts to address this global challenge and avenues to improve these efforts. This report intends to provide international and regional organizations and states, in particular their law enforcement agencies, with a representative, yet non-exhaustive, benchmark on the issue of craft production of SALW. The report encourages a new, global dialogue on this critical issue.

Citation (EN): Matilde Vecchioni, “Unregulated Production: Examining Craft-Produced Weapons from a Global Perspective”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/08

Référence(FR): Matilde Veccioni ” Production non-réglementée : Examens des armes artisanales à l’échelle mondiale”, UNIDIR, Genève2024, https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/10

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By early 2024, 15 states – including 12 African states – have assessed and made efforts to strengthen their national frameworks governing the management of conventional weapons and ammunition throughout their life cycle using UNIDIR’s Reference Methodology for National WAM Baseline Assessments. UNIDIR has identified 10 key functional areas for WAM, including a national coordination mechanism and a legal and regulatory framework, as well as measures to be taken to control transfers, manage stockpiles, ensure accountability through marking and record-keeping, dealing with illicit arms and ammunition, and final disposal. 

This is the third annual update by UNIDIR to recognize the progress made to strengthen WAM policies and practices by those 12 African states. This update provides an initial comparative analysis of progress made across the regional baseline of WAM policy and practice. It sheds light on persistent as well as context-specific challenges encountered by States in strengthening their national WAM frameworks. The update presents national examples of activities and progress made in oftentimes challenging environments from 2023 to early 2024 in the 10 key WAM functional areas.

The exchange of good practices and lessons learned in strengthening WAM policy and practice in Africa seeks to enhance the knowledge of States, regional organisations and international partners on ways to establish and implement comprehensive national and regional frameworks governing the full lifecycle of arms and ammunition.

UNIDIR encourages the Community of States, regional organisations and relevant international partners to consult its WAM Country Insight and Annual Update series as a useful reference to support the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for future WAM projects.

Citation: Theò Bajon, “Weapons and Ammunition Management in Africa Insight: 2024 Update”, UNIDIR, Geneva, 2024. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/WAM/07

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Cet Aperçu de Pays présente les principales conclusions de l’évaluation nationale de base en matière d’armes et de munitions, réalisée en avril 2022 par le gouvernement de la République du Bénin, par l’intermédiaire de l’entité nationale désignée comme chef de file, la Commission Nationale de Lutte contre la Prolifération des Armes Légères (CNLCPAL), en coopération avec la Communauté Économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO) et l’Institut des Nations Unies pour la Recherche sur le Désarmement (UNIDIR). La publication s’appuie sur le rapport complet d’évaluation de suivi de base transmis par l’UNIDIR, en coopération avec la CEDEAO, au gouvernement de la République du Bénin et apporte un éclairage sur les capacités institutionnelles et opérationnelles existantes en matière de GAM, les défis rencontrés par les autorités béninoises aux niveaux stratégique et opérationnel ainsi que les options pour renforcer davantage le cadre national régissant la gestion du cycle de vie des armes et des munitions au Bénin.

L’Aperçu de Pays couvre la période allant jusqu’à avril 2022 et ne reflète pas ou ne prend pas en compte les changements et les développements plus récents, y compris en ce qui concerne la GAM au Bénin depuis avril 2022. Néanmoins, la plupart des principales conclusions ainsi que les options identifiées pour renforcer davantage la GAM au Bénin restent pertinentes et valables.

 L’UNIDIR encourage la communauté des Etats, les organisations régionales et sous-régionales et les partenaires internationaux concernés à consulter cet Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM au Bénin, ainsi que ses séries d’Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM ainsi que les mises à jour annuelles, comme base afin de renforcer les politiques et les pratiques de la GAM à différents niveaux, ainsi que pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et évaluer les futurs programmes et projets liés à la GAM, et aux domaines connexes, au Bénin et dans d’autres États africains respectivement.

Citation: Theò Bajon and Mohamed Coulibaly (2024) “Gestion des armes et des munitions – Aperçu de pays : République du Bénin”, UNIDIR, Genève. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/WAM/06

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Les réponses à cette montée de la violence armée et de l’extrémisme violent en Afrique de l’Ouest sont restées avant tout d’ordre militaire et sécuritaire. Elles sont ainsi devenues acceptées comme principal mode de gestion (non pacifique) des conflits, au détriment d’autres voies. Dans ce contexte, la question de la place des armes conventionnelles et de leurs munitions semble ne pas avoir été suffisamment considérée jusqu’à présent. Le lien entre la disponibilité et la prolifération des armes et de leurs munitions d’une part et la violence des groupes extrémistes violents d’autre part est aisément démontré. Ce lien est-il alors effectivement pris en compte dans les efforts pour prévenir durablement la prolifération de ces armes et l’extrémisme violent ?

La Division Paix et droits de l’homme du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères (DFAE) de la Suisse, l’Institut des Nations Unies pour la recherche sur le désarmement (UNIDIR) et le Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique (UNREC) ont organisé le « Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest », qui a eu lieu du 5 au7 décembre 2023 à Lomé, au Togo. Son objectif principal était de renforcer la contribution de la gestion des armes et munitions conventionnelles (GAM) aux efforts de prévention de l’extrémisme violent (PEV) et – réciproquement – en Afrique de l’Ouest et, ainsi, de stimuler une approche conjointe et durable entre ces domaines. Le présent rapport synthétise les points clés des discussions tenues pendant le séminaire.

Citation: Institut des Nations Unies pour la recherche sur le désarmement, Centre régional des Nations Unies pour la paix et le désarmement en Afrique et Division Paix et droits de l’homme du Département fédéral des affaires étrangères de la Suisse (2024) « Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest : rapport de synthèse », UNIDIR, Geneva. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/24/PACAV/05

The post Séminaire régional sur la prévention de l’extrémisme violent et la gestion des armes conventionnelles en Afrique de l’Ouest: rapport de synthèse first appeared on UNIDIR.

This factsheet outlines direct and reverberating impacts of those weapons and how they vary among women, men, girls and boys. It also offers concrete ideas to mainstream gender considerations in discussions on explosive weapons and in initiatives to protect civilians.

Citation: UNIDIR Gender and Disarmament Programme (2024), “Gendered Impacts of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas”, Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR.

The post Gendered Impacts of the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas first appeared on UNIDIR.

This paper seeks to bridge this gap by presenting a needs-driven, systematic, and context-sensitive framework to identify and assess technologies that could strengthen efforts to counter the diversion of conventional arms and related components.

The first step of this framework requires an understanding of the risks and methods of diversion, tailored to each specific type of conventional weapon and its life-cycle context. The second step examines the existing technologies which could help address the identified risk(s). The final step assesses the identified technologies according to the context(s) in which they would be applied, as well as against selected attributes the technologies should possess.

The paper also provides two illustrations to show how the framework could be applied to small arms and light weapons on the one hand, and components of conventional weapons on the other.

Sponsor Organizations: Germany (Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme) and Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Microsoft (Security and Technology Programme).

Citation: Sarah Grand-Clément and Diederik Cops (2023) “Project D-TECT: Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Components of Conventional Weapons”, UNIDIR and the Flemish Peace Institute. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/ERC/08

The post Technologies to Counter the Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and Components of Conventional Weapons first appeared on UNIDIR.

It presents a preliminary non-exhaustive mapping of industry and other private sector actors engaged in the various stages of the arms transfer chain and highlights some “red flags” and risk indicators that they can consider while conducting their day-to-day businesses to support States Parties in the detection and prevention of diversion. It also provides information on existing practices and opportunities for enhancing the engagement of industry and other private sectors actors within the ATT framework.

The paper is the fourth in a series of issue briefs released from a research Consortium established by UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research and Stimson Center in 2019. The research aims at increasing knowledge and strengthening shared understanding on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to support its effective implementation.

About the Consortium

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Conflict Armament Research (CAR), and the Stimson Center established a research Consortium in 2019 aimed at increasing knowledge and strengthening shared understanding on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to support its effective implementation. In 2023, the Consortium is conducting research and facilitating dialogue events on “The Role of Industry in Responsible International Transfers of Conventional Arms”, in support of the Republic of Korea’s Presidency of the Ninth Conference of States Parties (CSP9) to the ATT.
 

Citation: Anna Mensah, Rob Perkins and Ryan Fletcher (2023) “The Arms Trade Treaty: The Role of Industry and Other Private Sector Actors in Efforts To Counter the Diversion of Conventional Arms”, UNIDIR, Conflict Armament Research, and Stimson Centre. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/ASC/07

The post The Role of Industry and Other Private Sector Actors in Efforts To Counter the Diversion of Conventional Arms (ATT Issue Brief 4) first appeared on UNIDIR.

The United Nations needs to adapt to ensure the safety of peacekeepers and their ability to implement mandated tasks. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) illustrates both the possible dangers to current missions as well as lessons learned in efforts to mitigate the impact of illicit arms.

This brief reviews MINUSMA’s experiences in these regards. It argues that greater efforts should be made to exploit the potential role of peacekeeping operations in monitoring and tracing illicit arms flows to enhance situational awareness and the fight against impunity.

Citation: Nils Holger Anders (2023) “Peacekeeping in Hostile Environments: The Impact of Illicit Arms on MINUSMA”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/PACAV/06

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The compendium, as well as the primers, also serve as technical guides on issues relating to uncrewed systems for use within frameworks and processes where such systems are relevant and discussed, such as the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on the continuing operation and relevance of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA) and its further development, the Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, and the GGE on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems.

Sponsor Organizations: Germany (Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme) and Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Microsoft (Security and Technology Programme).

Citation: Sarah Grand-Clément (2023) “Uncrewed Aerial, Ground, and Maritime Systems: A Compendium”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/ERC/05

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This summary report presents some of the workshop’s key discussion points and issues for consideration during the ATT CSP9 cycle of meetings. It provides some background information on industry expectations regarding the impact of the ATT and explores how to improve industry engagement with the ATT process. It also highlights some of the potential benefits for industry – which ranges from arms manufacturers, via logistics companies to financial service providers – if the ATT can facilitate greater convergence of arms transfer laws and regulatory approaches around the world. It is anticipated that this document can support the preparation of a working paper by the CSP9 presidency that contains recommendations for concrete action to support effective implementation and universalization of the ATT.

Citation: Paul Holtom and Anna Mensah (2023) “The Role of Industry in Responsible International Transfers of Conventional Arms”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/WAM/04

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L’Aperçu de Pays couvre la période allant jusqu’à décembre 2021 et ne reflète pas ou ne prend pas en compte les changements et les développements plus récents, y compris en ce qui concerne la GAM au Togo depuis décembre 2022. Néanmoins, la plupart des principales conclusions ainsi que les options identifiées pour renforcer davantage la GAM au Togo restent pertinentes et valables. 
 
L’UNIDIR encourage la communauté des Etats, les organisations régionales et sous-régionales et les partenaires internationaux concernés à consulter cet Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM au Togo, ainsi que ses séries d’Aperçu de Pays sur la GAM ainsi que les mises à jour annuelles, comme base afin de renforcer les politiques et les pratiques de la GAM à différents niveaux, ainsi que pour planifier, mettre en œuvre et évaluer les futurs programmes et projets liés à la GAM, et aux domaines connexes, au Togo et dans d’autres États africains respectivement.

TRANSLATIONS

English: Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight Series: Togolese Republic

Citation: Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme (2023) “Gestion des armes et des munitions – Aperçu de Pays : République togolaise”, UNIDIR, Geneva, Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.37559/CAAP/23/WAM/03

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