UN Small Arms Process

IANSA is the designated coordinator of civil society for the UN small arms process; in addition, we lead the advocacy on armed violence prevention – and provide support and assistance to other groups – in many different UN fora such as the Group of Interested States (GIS). IANSA is a member of the reference group for the International Standards on Small Arms Control (ISACS) and a member of the expert group that advises the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on implementation of the UN Firearms Protocol.

IANSA members cooperate closely with UN agencies, especially the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN Regional Disarmament Centres.

Some of IANSA's goals for the UN small arm process include:

- Strong implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) including reviewing / revising national legislation and strengthening National Commissions on Small Arms

- Mainstreaming gun violence prevention within global development, human rights, health and gender processes

- Effective implementation of the International Tracing Instrument and the recommendations of the Groups of Governmental Experts on arms brokering

Latest

Small Arms Survey report on Cote d’Ivoire

The Small Arms Survey has published “A National Survey of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Côte d’Ivoire: Arms Control and Armed Violence Prevention before the Post-electoral Crisis” in cooperation with the National Commission on Small Arms in Cote d’Ivoire, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Small Arms Control Programme (ECOSAP), and UNDP.

UN Disarmament Yearbook 2011

The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook for 2011 is now available electronically and in print. It provides an overview and the full texts of all resolutions and decisions of the UN General Assembly and the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, including on small arms.
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NGO Presentations at the PoA PrepCom, 21 March 2012

Representatives of civil society spoke in the afternoon plenary session of the preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the 2012 Review Conference (RevCon) on 21 March 2012.

The importance of international cooperation and assistance to improve stockpile management in Africa

This article was written by Félix Kokou Aklavon, member of the International Advisory Council (IAC) and the Togolese Action Network on Small Arms (RASALT) for the Small Arms Monitor during the preparatory committee for the 2012 Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA).

What should the UN Programme of Action PrepCom 2012 Achieve?

The purpose of the PrepCom is to lay the groundwork for the RevCon, 27 August – 7 September 2012. The PrepCom is expected to produce a draft agenda for the RevCon i.e. which solutions to the problem of gun violence are open for discussion.

2012 Preparatory Committee for the Second UN Programme of Action Review Conference

From 19-23 March 2012, UN member states are meeting at UN headquarters for a preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons In All Its Aspects.

Permanent representative of Jamaica to the UN looks forward to review of PoA

The Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN Raymond O. Wolfe celebrates the achievements of the UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA) over the last 10 years and looks forward to the Review Conference on the PoA in an article published in the UN Chronicle.

Aide memoire for PoA Preparatory Committee

An aide memoire for non-governmental organisations for the Preparatory Committee of the 2012 Review Conference on the Programme of Action on small arms (PoA PrepCom) is now available online.

Parliamentary Forum statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles

The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons has issued a policy statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles, adopted during their board meeting in New York on 23 October this year. It states that, “ Such kinds of weapons – which do not only relate to illegal trafficking, conflict zones or high levels of gun violence but have also been used to perpetrate massacres in countries including New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, United States and recently in Norway - should be banned from civilian possession”.

Parliamentarians promote ban on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles

The Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons has issued a policy statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles, adopted during their board meeting in New York on 23 October this year.

IANSA Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) National Training, Papua New Guinea - Participant Blog

From 28 November – 01 December 2011, IANSA is holding a national training on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 13 people will be taking part in the training, and reporting on what they have discussed on this blog.

Décimo aniversario del Programa de Acción celebrado en Nueva York

El décimo aniversario del Programa de Acción (PoA) de la ONU fue celebrado en un evento en Nueva York el 24 de octubre de 2011.

UN: IANSA calls for strengthening of the UN Programme of Action (PoA)

Civil society organisations addressed the UN General Assembly First Committee on 25 October. Michele Poliacof of IANSA commended the positive impact of the PoA in the last 10 years

Civil Society presentations at UN First Committee 2011

Civil society organisations addressed the UN General Assembly First Committee on 25 October.

Article on small arms and the UN General Assembly First Committee

“Looking forward to a successful 2012 on small arms and light weapons”, an article written by IANSA Director Mirjana Dokmanovic, has been published in the First Committee Monitor.

IANSA International Advisory Council meeting

The newly elected IANSA International Advisory Council (IAC) held its second teleconference meeting on 19 October. The meeting focused on priorities for IANSA in 2012

New research note on UN PoA reporting

A new research note from the Small Arms Survey provides a brief review of national reports on the PoA.

Summaries from the General Debate of the UN First Committee, October-November 2011

The First Committee on Disarmament and International Security of the UN General Assembly is taking place from 3 October to 1 November 2011 at UN Headquarters in New York.

IANSA UN Bulletin September 2011

This is the fourth edition of IANSA’s quarterly UN bulletin, issued as part of our efforts to assist you in your UN related work.

IANSA woman gives special briefing to UN missions

On 13 September 2011, the IANSA Women’s Network participated in a Special Briefing for Missions of UN Member States preparing for the First Committee of the UN General Assembly: Disarmament and International Security.

IANSA paper on differences between UN arms control instruments

This brand new briefing paper gives an overview of the differences between the UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA) and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

IANSA Public Health Network campaign for an ATT that can help prevent armed violence

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), leading members of the IANSA Public Health Network, are using the Week of Action to highlight the public health aspects of small arms:

Spain: Support for the UN Programme of Action

In Spain, Plataforma per la Pau Lloret has issued press releases in Catalan expressing their support for the UN Programme of Action (UN PoA) on small arms.

Cameroon: People's consultation on the Kinshasa Convention during the Week of Action 2011

Women in Alternative Action, an IANSA member in Cameroon, marked the 10 year anniversary of the UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA) with a people’s consultation on the Central African Convention on Small Arms, also known as the Kinshasa Convention.

Sri Lanka: Petition to push Parliament on implementing UN PoA and Firearms Protocol

APHR has opened an online petition calling on the Parliament of Sri Lanka to amend national gun laws in compliance with the UN Firearms Protocol and the UN Programme of Action on small arms to help prevent gun violence and the proliferation of illegal guns.

IANSA Secretariat at conference on small arms and DDR

On 1 June, IANSA Woman Sarah Masters gave a presentation about the gender dimensions of SALW control and disarmament demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) at a conference about the UN Programme of Action on small arms (UN PoA) in Berlin, Germany.

Southern Sudan: Southern Sudan Action Network on Small Arms train officials on small arms

On 21 May, the Southern Sudan Action Network on Small Arms and IKV Pax Christi held a joint workshop for members of the state legislative assembly in Upper Nile State, Southern Sudan.

MGE 2011: Final report available soon

The UN PoA Meeting of Governmental Experts (MGE) 2011 concluded on Friday 13 May.

MGE 2011 - NGO presentations - 13 May

NGO presentations took place during the morning plenary session of Friday 13 May

MGE 2011 - Summary Report: Plenary Session: Afternoon - 13 May 2011

A summary report of the main points of the afternoon session on Friday 13 May at the Open-Ended Meeting of Governmental Experts, 9-13 May 2011.