Arms

Reviewing the successes and failures of small arms destruction projects

M. Henley / Panos Pictures

The world appears to be witnessing the largest systematic destruction of excess small arms and light weapons since the end of the Second World War. Although surplus destruction is well established in the international security-building repertoire of donor governments, it remains in many respects experimental. This chapter reviews the successes and failures of small arms and ammunition destruction projects. The authors consider what barriers must be overcome and consider when success is most likely.

Latest Additions

Assessing violence in Jamaica: ( I. Duncan-Waite;M. Woolcock / Brooks World Poverty Institute, University of Manchester , 2008); Drawing on extensive field research in Kingston’s garrison communities, this paper argues that Jamaica generally, and Kingston in particular, experiences high levels of common viole...
Reviewing the successes and failures of small arms destruction projects: ( A. Karp / Small Arms Survey , 2008); The world appears to be witnessing the largest systematic destruction of excess small arms and light weapons since the end of the Second World War. Although surplus destruction is well established ...
Nigeria’s mounting security challenge: ( J.M. Hazen;J. Horner / Small Arms Survey , 2007); This study aims to raise awareness of a number of issues relating to insecurity, armed violence, and the proliferation of illicit small arms in Nigeria since the return to democracy in 1999. It partic...
Terrorist labelling holds back arms control efforts: ( N. Florquin;E. Decrey Warner / Geneva Call , 2008); This article discusses how the increased use of the “terrorist” label since September 11th 2001, to describe some non-state armed groups (NSAGs), has challenged efforts to tackle security ...
The need to prohibit cluster munitions: ( United Nations Development Programme , 2008); This paper describes the devastating consequences of cluster munitions. It discusses some of the key challenges facing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and others fighting the presence ...
Addressing the impact of unexploded cluster bombs on civilians: ( Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining , 2007); Cluster bombs, which by design cover a wide area, are a specific and often significant post-conflict danger to settled communities and returnees alike. Fatalities and injuries continue to occur wel...
Monitoring and enforcement of UN arms embargoes in Africa: ( G. Lamb / Institute for Security Studies, South Africa , 2008); There are no international standards and treaties governing the import, export and transfer of arms. Some states and regional bodies, such as the European Union (EU), have policies and legislation ...
How does aid affect military spending in recipient countries?: ( P. Collier;A. Hoeffler / Blackwell Synergy , 2007); Military expenditure consumes a large part of government spending in developing countries and represents forgone spending on social development. The paper explores both the revealed motivation for ...
How can unauthorised diversion of small arms and light weapons be reduced?: ( Saferworld , 2007); This report focuses on the issue of preventing and reducing unauthorised diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) transfers. It complements discussions on the range of other important issue...
Curbing the proliferation of small arms: ( C. Buchanan;M. Widmer / Inter Parliamentary Union , 2007); The proliferation of small arms is a major contributer to human insecurity and social unrest. Responsible for the deaths of up to 270,000 people a year in countries officially "at peace", th...