Transfer of conventional weapons

Saferworld is deeply concerned about the supply of weapons to regions affected by conflict and to places where human rights are at risk. Reducing the transfer of weapons to unstable regions and enacting better regulation and more responsible arms transfers are critical elements in preventing conflict and promoting peace. We help by developing best practice guidelines for reducing diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW) to unintended end-users or uses, and making policy recommendations for improved drafting, observance and enforcement of arms embargoes.

Our work on arms transfers involves different strands of work:

Arms Trade Treaty

Arms transfer controls in Europe

UK arms transfer controls

Saferworld has been at the forefront of civil society efforts to achieve effective arms controls including the EU Code of Conduct on arms and the proposed international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Our role in this process is primarily policy development. For example, we make evidence based recommendations on how to best provide for effective monitoring and verification of Treaty implementation and engage with key supportive and sceptical countries in terms of text development and negotiating strategies.

Saferworld also works to promote incremental improvements in the transfer systems in EU states, and to promote EU standards in the wider European neighbourhood. We are also planning to begin an evaluation of the impact of the Nairobi Protocol, and then to develop policy prescriptions for signatory states based on that evaluation.