Weapons collection and destruction

Firearms remain lethal for many years after manufacture. In Iraq, guns dating from 1918 are still being used. When weapons remain in struggling post-conflict societies, they can cause more damage than they did during the conflict. In El Salvador, more people were shot dead in 10 years of peace than during the previous 12 years of war. And the overall number of these weapons is increasing - an estimated 10 guns are manufactured for every gun destroyed.

In post-conflict situations, weapons collection is an important aspect of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and related processes. The UN published International DDR Standards in 2006. Collection programs have also been successful in non-conflict situations, such as gun amnesties in Australia and Brazil.

Public gun destructions have been used to raise awareness, improve public confidence and symbolise an end to conflict. Examples have been 'flames of peace' in Cambodia and Mali, and gun sculptures in Macedonia and Mozambique.

Latest news

Second UNPoA Review Conference - IANSA's Civil Society Summaries

 

IANSA has a presence at UN Headquarters these two weeks to ensure that civil society is strong and visible at the 2012 Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA), taking place from the 27th August to 7th September.
 
The summaries below provide some highlights of the work of the Review Conference.
 
IANSA Members Address UN States at the PoA Review Conference

IANSA's presence at the Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) was launched as three members, Jasmine Nario-Galace (Director, Center for Peace Education, Philippines), Hector Guerra (Network Coordinator, IANSA, Mexico), and Marie-Thérèse Ngandji (Executive Director, Caritas, Gabon) delivered speeches addressing IANSA's review of PoA Implementation so far, and hopes for further progress in the future.

Transcripts of the three speeches are available below.

UNPoA Second Review Conference

The Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, is due to run from 27th August to 7th September at UN Headquarters in New York.

More than a decade has passed since the adoption of the PoA in 2001, which has laid the foundation for action at the national, regional and global levels.

Second Review Conference of the UNPoA

The Second Review Conference for the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA), is about to commence at the UN Headquarters in New York, 27th - 7th August, 2012.

Burundi: IANSA members participate in weapons destruction session

REBAL-BUANSA, RAPACODIBU and MI-RPD, IANSA members in Burundi, took part in a weapons destruction session organised by the CNAP, the Permanent National Commission against the proliferation of SALW, in the Bubanza area. The arms destroyed had been voluntarily handed in by the population in six provinces of the country. This event was extensively covered by media, thanks to the presence of the Minister of Public Security who made a statement about the involvement of the Burundi government in the fight against the proliferation of SALW.

Latest resources

Brazil: Instituto Sou da Paz launch guide to children’s disarmament

Instituto Sou da Paz, an IANSA member in Brazil, has launched a practical guide to children's disarmament.

Small arms report by the UN Secretary General, 2011

This report by the UN Secretary-General was submitted to the UN Security Council to bring them up to date on issues that were presented to them in the 2008 SG report on Small Arms

US report on weapons destructions

The annual report of the United States Conventional Weapons Destruction program, ‘To Walk the Earth in Safety’, has been released.

Dangerous Depots

Article from the US State Department with a list of examples of explosions at ammunition depots. Written in 2010.

Ammunition - UN Group of Governmental Experts 2008

Ammunition stockpiles require careful management to prevent explosions. The report of a Group of Governemntal Experts was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in 2008, and subsequently technical guidlines are being prepared.

Small arms report by the UN Secretary General, 2008

This report by the UN Secretary General came as response to a statement from the UN Security Council in 2007, requesting that they receive a report on small arms every two years