Developing Gender-responsive National Action Plans on Small Arms

At the Fourth Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons in 2024, member states expressed concern that the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons impedes the achievement of gender equality. This has long been understood by women’s civil society organizations, as well as several states that have both experienced and documented the gender-differentiated impacts of small arms and light weapons and their broader impacts on human rights.

To help countries mainstream gender perspectives and take into consideration the specific needs of men, women, boys, girls, and under-represented groups in their action plans and policies, the Survey has developed two how-to guides.

Developing Gender-responsive National Action Plans on Small Arms provides guidance on how to make national small arms policies and practices, specifically small arms NAPs, more inclusive and gender responsive. It aims to strengthen diverse, meaningful participation in local and national small arms control processes; to better understand the root causes of violence; and to address small arms control from a development perspective.