Civil Society Advocacy Guide: The Implementation of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (2017)

This Civil Society Advocacy Guide on SALW and the PoA is designed to assist non-governmental and community organisations working at the grassroots to help make our world a safer and more prosperous place for all. It introduces the main elements of concern regarding the proliferation and misuse of SALW, and the multi-dimensional solutions being developed to prevent, combat and eradicate such irresponsible trade and its inhumane effects.

The Guide is divided into four main sections:

1. What does IANSA do?

2. Why campaign on small arms and light weapons?

3. What is the ‘illicit trade in SALW in all its aspects’?

4. Developing civil society advocacy strategies.

The guide refers to a number of key international agreements and documents related to small arms and light weapons control – not only the PoA but also the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), UN Firearms Protocol, International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), UN Basic Principles on Use of Force and Firearms, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and regional instruments on SALW.