New publication on small arms and light weapons
Reaching Critical Will has published a briefing paper written by Daniel Mack of Instituto Sou da Paz, An assessment of the PoA. It explores some of the key challenges facing the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons and highlights opportunities and options for addressing small arms issues more effectively.
Published ahead of the fifth meeting of states on the PoA in June 2014, the paper draws on Instituto Sou da Paz's recent think piece What Next? Thoughts for Global Civil Society Working on Arms Control and Armed Violence Reduction. The exerpts here serve as an account of SDP’s relative withdrawal from the PoA as a priority focus, but most importantly as a provocation for civil society and government colleagues to engage in a collective quo vadis assessment of the PoA. The paper suggests elements to consider when debating and setting an advocacy agenda to implement over the coming years. It asks questions about the nature and efficacy of international work on small arms and suggests key areas in which future work will be necessary.