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

Uganda: Workshop on gender and small arms, gun laws and the ATT
International trade controls, Women, gender and guns

The Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), IANSA member in Uganda, is holding a workshop the Kapchorwa District in Eastern Uganda with the district task force of the National Focal Point on Small Arms. The objective is to create awareness about gender dimensions on small arms and the ATT, and to educate the participants on Uganda’s gun legislations and gun policies.  Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, Executive Director of EASSI also wrote an article the need to include ammunition in the ATT that was published in the daily newspaper the New Visio

Macedonia: Film screening, briefings for journalists and collection of signatures to improve gun policies
International trade controls

In Macedonia, CIVIL, the Centre for Freedom organised a range of activities. They held a conference and film screening of ‘The Story so far’ in Skopje for 100 people and collected signatures to support their recommendations to the Government of Macedonia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including support for the ATT and ways to overcome SALW issues in Macedonia. They also organised a briefing for journalists, focusing on ethnic violence, a major issue in Macedonia, and shared IANSA materials and created their own in Macedonian. 

Sweden: Campaign and rally to collect signatures for the Parliamentary Declaration on the ATT
International trade controls

The Swedish Fellowship on Reconciliation (SweFOR), IANSA member in Sweden, held a rally to hand out information and collect signatures for a robust ATT as part of its campaign "Stop Arms Save Life" in Uppsala, north of Stockholm.  SweFOR, in collaboration with a parliamentarian from the Parliamentary Network against SALW and the Parliamentary Forum on SALW, handed out the Parliamentary Declaration and leaflets on the ATT in the Swedish Parliament.

Nepal: IANSA Women organise event on gender and the ATT
International trade controls, Women, gender and guns

The Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON), IANSA member in Nepal along with the Armed Violence Reduction Working Group and National Women Security Watch Group, organised an interactive workshop on the “Arms Trade Treaty and Gender”. Ms. Prassanata Wasti presented data on the security situation of Nepal since 2010. Ms. Shobha Gautam, IHRICON’s founder and president, presented her paper on the Arms Trade Treaty and Gender.

Burkina Faso: Football match, film screening and debate with youth on the misuse of SALW
International trade controls

RASALAO-Burkina, IANSA member in Burkina-Faso, undertook a range of activities, in collaboration with Amnesty-Burkina. They organised a workshop in Amnesty-Burkina’s head office to inform the members of the two organisations about the Global Week of Action and about the upcoming ATT Diplomatic Conference in New York, as well as a football match, a film screening and a debate with youth about the misuse of SALW in Burkina-Faso. 

Latest resources

The Arms Trade Treaty: Including Small Arms and Light Weapons
Border controls, International trade controls, Regional Cooperation

This document outlines recommendations that would strengthen areas of the Arms Trade Treaty that have the potential to control and reduce the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and related ammunition. The inclusion of these is vital if the Arms Trade Treaty is to be effective in saving lives and reducing serious injury to people around the world.

IANSA paper on differences between UN arms control instruments
International trade controls, UN Small Arms Process

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).

Slideshow on gun trafficking from the US to Mexico
Border controls

A slideshow of images on the theme “Guns don't need passports to cross the U.S.-Mexico border” is available here.

New WHO guide for psychological support in crisis situations
Survivors

The World Health Organisation has released a guide for fieldworkers on how to provide social and psychological support to people affected by disasters, including survivors of conflict situations.

Media monitoring in East Africa
Regional Cooperation

The East African Action Network on Small Arms (EAANSA) is monitoring media for the latest news and stories relating to the small arms issue in the region.