Small Arms and Light Weapons


The issue of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) has only come onto the UN agenda in recent years, but there is a growing awareness of the deadly threat to human security posed by these weapons. Up to 90% of direct deaths in areas of conflict are caused by small arms, while the use of small arms to deny access to food and healthcare is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of people each year. In peaceful societies small arms continue to be used to maim and kill, causing 250,000 homicides and suicides each year and leaving thousands more people injured or permanently disabled. QUNO strives to support the United Nations in its efforts to address the proliferation of small arms and its effects, with a particular emphasis on the cross-cutting nature of this issue.

Expert Meeting on Small Arms Demand, Geneva.

On 17th January, QUNO Geneva hosted an experts meeting on "Setting a new agenda for Demand Work". This event brought together close to thirty experienced experts on various aspects of small arms demand, including political advocacy, research, policy development and field implementation. The aim of the one-day session was to review the development of small arms demand theory, policy and practice; to assess its areas of success; to identify gaps that need attention and to outline steps for further development and consolidation of programming. A report that summarizes and extends some of the ideas presented at the meeting, along with some relevant documents are available below.

Review Conference on Small Arms action, July 2006

Click here to read QUNO dispatches from 26 June to 7 July 2006 United Nations Conference to Review Progress Made in the "Implementation of the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects”, July 2006.


Click on the links below for more information about QUNO’s work on this issue:

QUNO Offices

Contact us:

Geneva  |  New York

 

Parent Bodies

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC)

American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW)


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