Work areas

The problem of small arms proliferation is multidimensional– that is why such a broad array of organisations around the world are so concerned about it. On this page you will find the latest news and resources on some of the hot topics for groups working against small arms and light weapons.

Latest news

Mapping the small arms trade
International trade controls

The Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT) have updated their ‘Arms Trade Mapper’, an online tool for visualising data on the global trade in small arms. It provides the option to view trade between countries, and individual profiles for each country

New report on monitoring and reporting practices in global arms transfers
International trade controls

The new report 'Transparency and accountability: monitoring and reporting methods under an Arms Trade Treaty' has been released by TransArms Research and the International Peace Information Service (IPIS).

Canada: Campaigners outraged by decision to destroy national gun registry
National gun laws

On 15 February, the Conservative government of Canada won approval in Parliament for Bill C-19 that will abolish the national registry of rifles and shotguns and allow the destruction of records on 7.1 million guns currently registered.

Proposed state law to register handguns in Illinois
National gun laws

The Mayor of Chicago, US, Rahm Emanuel, has proposed a law that will require handgun owners all over the state of Illinois to register their weapons. Currently only the city of Chicago requires handguns to be registered.

DR Congo: National Commission on small arms welcomes new regional office
Weapons collection and destruction

The National Commission on small arms in the DR Congo has established a regional office in the western city of Boma, with support from UNDP to bring together local representatives of the military, the national police and intelligence, border control officials and civil society organisations.

Latest resources

Summaries from the Arms Trade Treaty Preparatory Committee 13-17 February 2012
International trade controls

This week, UN member states are gathering in New York for the fourth session of preparatory committee (PrepCom) meetings on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

New IANSA Womens Network position paper on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
International trade controls, Women, gender and guns

The IANSA Women's Network has released its latest position paper, ‘The Arms Trade Treaty: An Important Opportunity to Prevent Gender Based Violence at Gunpoint’

Most homicides in El Salvador committed with guns
National gun laws

Guns were used in nearly 75% of the 18.929 homicides committed in El Salvador in the period 2007-2011, according to new research by Centro de la Sociedad Civil para el Monitoreo y Evaluación de la Violencia and Fundación para la Democracia, Seguridad y Paz. In a study on public safety in the country, they found that violence was the leading cause of death, with 12 homicides per day.87.3% of homicide victims were men.

Parliamentary Forum statement on civilian possession of automatic and semi-automatic rifles
National gun laws, UN Small Arms Process

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”.

IANSA members report on election violence in Liberia
Security sector reform

IANSA members in Liberia continue to monitor the election process in the country.