New SIPRI/SPITS report: United Nations Arms Embargoes

This report is the first analysis of the 27 United Nations arms embargoes that have been imposed since 1990. UN arms embargoes have been criticized as having a limited impact on reducing arms flows to their targets or improving target behaviour. Against this background the report offers a reassessment of UN arms embargoes, their objectives and their effects. Recommendations for strengthening the implementation of arms embargoes are addressed in particular to the UN Security Council, but will be of interest to all UN member states, UN agencies, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, researchers and the concerned general public.

Read more and download the report

Report launch events

The report was launched at a series of events in New York on 26–27 November, jointly organized by SIPRI, SPITS, the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations and the International Peace Academy. The image above shows Carl Magnus Nesser, First Secretary at the Swedish Mission, speaking at a press conference on 26 November in the UN building, New York, flanked by two of the report’s authors, Professor Peter Wallensteen and Siemon Wezeman, and joined by Anders Wallberg of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The launch was reported on by the BBC, the International Herald Tribune, the Washington Post, and many others. A webcast of the press conference is available from the UN website (43 minutes, Real Media format).

Photo: Annie Sturesson