Standing up united against gun violence: Tools for strategic advocacy (October 2022)

At the heart of the IANSA network is a shared commitment to raise public awareness of the dangers of small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation and violence, and to conduct fact-based advocacy of polices, laws and practical measures in constructive engagement with authorities to address the dangers in the countries where they are based. Since its inception, IANSA and its members, have contributed significantly by innovating and sustaining international, regional, and national efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to strengthen human security.

IANSA has created a toolkit on advocacy to provide its members with ideas and techniques they might need to raise their voices effectively and make strategic choices on targets, tactics and messages. This toolkit provides definitions to key terms, outlines relevant international instruments, offers a five step process to devising an advocacy strategy and has nine useful tools and tips, as well as links to additional resources.

Civil society needs to work together to help States draw up strategic roadmaps that include taking concrete measures with stringent controls on SALW that will help lead us to more peaceful and inclusive societies.