The effective and efficient management of weapon and ammunition stockpiles is an essential element of any national small arms and light weapons control system. The Small Arms Survey estimates that, as of 2017, there were 133 million firearms in military arsenals, and 23 million are owned by law enforcement agencies. However, the vast majority of […]
The proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) is a global problem that prolongs conflicts, facilitates violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, and puts civilians at high risk of death or injury from weapons-related violence. Marking and tracing SALW and ammunition is key to addressing this proliferation. Most illicit small […]
The UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) is the key globally agreed and politically binding framework to counter the negative consequences of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The glaring gap in the PoA text is the absence […]
In preparation for BMS7, the IANSA has chosen to focus its analysis and advocacy on five key issues: 1. The need to include ammunition in the PoA; 2. Implementing and building on the gender outcomes agreed during the 2018 PoA Review Conference (RevCon3); 3. Preventing and combatting diversion (a stated focus area of BMS7); 4. […]
Under the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), governments agreed to improve national small arms laws, import/export controls, and stockpile management – and to engage in cooperation and assistance. Since its adoption in 2001, the UN has worked to […]
In 2005, the UN also adopted the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), which requires States to ensure that weapons are properly marked and that records are kept in a timely and reliable manner. The ITI provides a framework for cooperation in weapons tracing which fulfills one of the commitments governments made in the Programme of Action. Improving […]
This year’s call to “Make your voice heard – Unite against gun violence” aims to acknowledge and continue the decades of collective action that Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence was built on. Leading up to The Seventh Biennial Meeting of States (BMS7) on the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA), we are encouraging members […]
Pursuant to the resolution A/RES/75/241, the Seventh Biennial Meeting of States (BMS7) took place from 26 to 30 July 2021. Biennial Meetings of States have the mandate to consider the national, regional and global implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in […]
The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence (WoA) is an opportunity to advocate collectively for an end to the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. The WoA against Gun Violence is a campaign launched by IANSA in 2003. In 2001, all Member States of the United Nations agreed to an important […]
Every six years, a Review Conference (RevCon) is held at UN Headquarters to review progress made in the implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). RevCon3 took place in 2018 and […]