Highlighting the need for effective control and oversight of the supply of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and military equipment during post-conflict security sector reform (SSR) programmes

Arms Transfer Researchers: Dr. Paul Holtom, Mark Bromley
CIT-MAP Researchers: Hugh Griffiths, Lawrence, Michael Jenks

Funder: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Timeline: Mar. 2012 - Jan. 2013

The risk of renewed conflict or at least ongoing low-intensity conflict and armed violence in post-conflict settings is widely acknowledged. This project is designed to highlight the need for state and non-state actors involved in SSR programmes in post-conflict settings to have well-managed control and oversight procedures for transfers of SALW and other military equipment to ensure that they do not unintentionally contribute to conflict and armed violence. Supplying SALW and military equipment is often a central component of post-conflict SSR programmes. Moreover, supplying SALW and military equipment carries inherent risks that can negatively impact upon post-conflict dynamics.  Nonetheless, states that are party to SSR initiatives - either directly or as part of wider stabilization, development or reconstruction programmes - frequently devote inadequate time and energy to ensuring that high standards are maintained when SALW and other military equipment are being supplied.

This project seeks to (a) highlight the risk of giving too little consideration to this 'upstream' aspect of SSR and (b) provide frameworks for the integration of SALW transfer control and oversight mechanisms into broader stabilisation initiatives.