Small arms and light weapons (SALW)
Small arms and light weapons and their ammunition (SALW) are involved in more violent, conflict related deaths each year than any other type of weapon system.
SALW are typically used in all the world's armed conflicts and insurgencies while resulting non-combatant or civilian fatality rates are an important factor in global conflict mortality figures.
SALW are also used to target civilians using other forms of violence, such as systemic rape and forced displacement.
Given the impact of SALW on global peace and security, SIPRI is expanding its work in this area. In particular, SIPRI is focused on supporting the efforts of governments, multi-lateral organisations and global civil society to combat the threats resulting from illicit and destabilizing transfers of SALW.
Focus areas for SIPRI's research include:
- The prevention of illicit and destabilizing transfers of SALW
- The development of improved controls on transportation and brokering activities
- Improving the transparency of SALW transfers
- Monitoring and reporting on international SALW transfers
Staff
from the Arms Transfer Programme undertake a wide variety of
SALW-related projects and consultancies on behalf of United Nations
(UN) and European Union (EU) member states, agencies and institutions
as well as providing data from open-source and subscription-based
services to inform public debate and discussions.
Currently funded SALW-related work involves:
- Cooperating with relevant UN agencies to assist states in the Western Balkans with the production of national reports on arms exports.
- Field missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which incorporate SALW-related issues within the wider context of resource extraction and exploitation.
