United Nations

There are several UN processes which, if implemented effectively by member states, have the potential to significantly reduce and prevent violent conflict.

The UN Programme of Action (PoA) on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, was agreed in 2001 and remains the primary international agreement on the control of small arms and light weapons. It sets out a range of measures for States to take to control of small arms transfers, regulate small arms brokering, manage stockpiles, mark and trace small arms and assist in the implementation of the PoA. However much remains to be done to encourage states to carry out the commitments in full.

On 30 October 2009, states at the UN voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution to negotiate a 'strong and robust' Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). This breakthrough is the result of more than a decade of discussion and debates on the need to control international transfers of conventional arms. The challenge now is to ensure that states negotiate the highest possible common international standards to ensure that weapons are not exported to states where there is a high risk that they will facilitate human rights abuses.

Saferworld works with partners in UN offices and agencies in New York and at the regional and country levels on a variety of themes and initiatives. Our efforts over the years have contributed to the establishment of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and to the inclusion of peace and security commitments in international agreements such as the 2008 Accra Agenda for Action.

However, much remains to be done to ensure that the support that outsiders provide to those seeking to resolve violent conflict is as effective and successful as possible.

We are encouraging states to effectively implement the UN’s Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the primary international framework for the control of small arms and light weapons.

We are working with UN member states and institutions to bring about a successful conclusion to current discussions on the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). If successful, this treaty would be the first international, legally-binding agreement controlling the import and export of arms worldwide. The next year will be crucial in determining the likely scope and content of the ATT and Saferworld will continue to prioritise this strand of work, in advance of the 2012 UN negotiating conference, at which a legally-binding Treaty should be agreed.

We continue to push for improvements in the UN’s ability to prevent conflict by highlighting the links between conflict and development and promoting security and justice reform. We are promoting a greater appreciation internationally of the explicit connection between challenges to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and tackling violent conflict.

The UN Peacebuilding Commission was established in 2005 with the purpose of bringing together all relevant actors and focus attention on strategies for post-conflict reconstruction and recovery. Saferworld contributed to the establishment of the commission and have since been monitoring its work. We believe that whilst progress has been slower than hoped, the Commission is an important initiative that has made valuable contributions to post-conflict work in targeted countries and has the potential to continue to make a significant difference in the future.

Read more about our work on the UN Programme of Action

Read more about our work on the Arms Trade Treaty