Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR)

Towards Global Standards: Regional Experience in Small Arms Transfer Controls

 Printable version

What lessons do regional experiences in small arms transfer controls provide for the construction of universal principles for the authorisation of small arms transfers? This publication from Project Ploughshares presents papers from an international seminar on ‘Regional Dimensions of Global Small Arms and Light Weapons Transfer Principles’. It shows that there is a growing global consensus, derived from international law, on the key principles that should govern arms transfers. The emerging challenge for the international community is to ensure coherence among initiatives addressing small arms transfer and initiatives addressing transfer of all conventional weapons.

An important role for a global process on arms transfer control is to build consensus on the nature of global arms transfer control standards. Regional instruments provide obvious steppingstones towards global arms transfer control instruments. International cooperation and assistance will be important both in the preparation and negotiation of an arms transfer agreement and in efforts to meet commitments. NGOs will also face capacity challenges and require resources and training if they are to play an informed and independent role. 

Review of sub-regional instruments in South America, Asia, the Caribbean, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa shows that:

• Most of these regions have become more active in collaborative processes and instruments responding to the negative effects of illicit or irresponsible arms trafficking.
• Instruments that have emerged to regulate the weapons trade reflect regional dynamics and experience and the shared political will to respond to weapons’ local impacts.
• Several recent regional and sub-regional initiatives are particularly relevant to building global transfer principles. The initiatives call for effective national regulation, transparency and adherence to obligations related to international humanitarian law.
• Different regions have not progressed equally with regard to arms transfer instruments, guidelines and principles, underlining the need for a global agreement on arms transfers.
• National laws and standards affect the development of international agreements on transfer controls. In some regions, regional progress appears closely linked with national progress.

Common sub-regional and regional challenges to the development of arms transfer principles include:

• Implementation of agreed instruments – progress on implementing sub-regional arms transfer control instruments remains limited and poses challenges in several regions.
• Capacity building – increasing state capacity to implement policy agreements and civil society capacity to monitor and support the work of states remain challenges for future agreements.
• Transparency – while important steps have been made, many regional instruments provide only for exchange of information among states. Regular, reliable and comprehensive public reporting of the details of arms transfers is essential.
• Monitoring – with adequate levels of transparency, civil society is ready to play an independent monitoring role. Civil society groups have already successfully engaged parliamentarians in reviewing and potentially monitoring arms transfers.

Access full text