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

IANSA members meet BMS Chair & Central African governments
UN Small Arms Process

IANSA members from Latin American and the Caribbean met Ambassador Pablo Macedo, chair of the 2010 Biennial Meeting of States (BMS), in Mexico City on 26-27 April.

US: Survivors and families work to keep guns off of schools
Children and armed violence, National gun laws

As people in the United States commemorated the anniversaries of the Virginia Tech shooting (16 April) and Columbine (20 April) mass shootings, survivors and gun control advocates continue to work to make American gun laws stronger and keep weapons out of schools, homes and communities.

Paraguay: Safe Community project
Children and armed violence

IANSA member CEJ (Centre for Judicial Studies) held a workshop on the "Safe Schools - Safe Community" project in Asuncion (Paraguay), 12-13 April.

Kenya: Pastoralist women's campaign
Marking and tracing

IANSA women in Wajir (Kenya) are celebrating a major victory as the local government has agreed to share information about their small arms inventory and mark over 9,000 weapons.

Mexico: IANSA women at the second women-only training on small arms control
Women, gender and guns

20 women from Central America and the Caribbean participated in the women-only training institute on 'Women and small arms control' held in Mexico City, 20-23 April.

Latest resources

Gender, Peace and Security Update from PRIO
Women, gender and guns
The first ‘Gender, Peace and Security Update (GPS)’ for 2012 from the Peace Research Institute Oslo, features PRIO researcher and Deputy Director Inger Skjelsbæk’s new book ‘The Psychology of War Rape: Studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the launch of the US Peace Research Endowment'.
NGO Presentations at the PoA PrepCom, 21 March 2012
UN Small Arms Process

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
Stockpile management and security, UN Small Arms Process

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).

The Arms Flyers: Commercial Aviation, Human Rights, and the Business of War and Arms
International trade controls

The report presents (Part I and Part II) a series of cases - from the 1980s to present - that illustrate and document the continuous involvement of aviation companies in the business of war, namely in the arms supply chains and also in covert operations, all of which have often resulted in consequent severe violations of human rights, from Nicaragua to Armenia, from D.R. Congo to Afghanistan and Rwanda.

What should the UN Programme of Action PrepCom 2012 Achieve?
UN Small Arms Process

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.