This report takes stock of how weapons-related issues — including small arms and light weapons, landmines, weapons of mass destruction, emerging technologies, and references to relevant legal frameworks, such as the Arms Trade Treaty — have been integrated into the Women Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda at the national level.
It analyses 197 National Action Plans on WPS, adopted by 106 States and territories between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2024. In doing so, it demonstrates the relevance of arms control and disarmament to the four pillars of the WPS Agenda: prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls and violations of their rights, the protection of women and girls and of their rights, full and meaningful participation of women in all areas of peace and security, as well as post-conflict and post-crisis relief and recovery.
Citation: Myrttinen, Henri, Anastaesia Mondesir, and Mariana Terreros Lozano. Closing Gaps: Strengthening the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through Arms Control and Disarmament. Geneva, Switzerland: UNIDIR, 2025.