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.

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.

'In the world of 3D-printed guns, one figure looms large: ‘JStark1809’. It is difficult to overstate his influence. He designed the FGC-9, one of the most popular 3D-printed guns in circulation. He also created Deterrence Dispensed, an influential network of gun designers. Since his death in 2021 he has been revered as a quasi-martyr for the right to bear arms, resulting in a cult-like following within the 3D-printed gun movement.'

'The globalization and expansion of the private security industry has led to concerns about whether the industry has adequate safeguards to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and other human rights abuses, by its personnel.'

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'As it enters its tenth year, the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) stands as one of the newest multilateral initiatives seeking to address the impact of the global arms trade.

This infographic draws from the Small Arms Survey's Global Violent Deaths database to provide an overview of gender-disaggregated data related to intentional homicides and the use of firearms.

Find out more about our GVD database here.

National actors working in small arms control and on women, peace, and security (WPS) share commitments to reduce suffering, maintain peace and security, and contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, while these cross references are increasingly commonplace in the international policy framework, this does not often translate into harmonized references in national action plans (NAPs) on WPS and small arms control.

This event, recorded on 14 February 2023, took place as the Open-ended Working Group on Conventional Ammunition met for its third substantive session to discuss a new Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management.

'The increasing recognition to the role of gender perspectives in arms control; has produced implicit and explicit requirements to incorporate gender into arms control architecture, instruments, policies, and programmes. Much work has been done—especially since the official dawn of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in 2000—yet much remains when it comes to translating principles to action.