The Small Arms Survey in brief

The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. It serves as the principal international source of public information on all aspects of small arms and as a resource for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and activists. The project has an international staff with expertise in security studies, political science, international public policy, law, economics, development studies, conflict resolution, and sociology. The staff works closely with a worldwide network of researchers and partners.

Objectives

To serve as the principal international source of impartial and public information on all aspects of small arms and light weapons.

• To act as a resource for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and activists in terms of information and research on small arms issues.
• To be an independent monitor of national and international governmental and non-governmental policy initiatives on small arms.
• To be an outlet for policy-relevant research on small arms issues.
• To act as a forum and clearinghouse for the sharing of information as well as the dissemination of best practice measures and initiatives dealing with small arms issues.

Drivers Behind the Idea

The proliferation of small arms and light weapons represents a grave threat to human security. The unchecked spread of these weapons has exacerbated inter- and intra-state conflicts, contributed to human rights violations, undermined political and economic development, destabilized communities, and devastated the lives of millions of people. The future success of efforts to deal with small arms and light weapons depends in large part on the development of accurate information concerning the global flow of these weapons and on reliable analyses of the causes and consequences of their proliferation.

Effective governmental or non-governmental action depends on a correct diagnosis of the problem, yet policy-makers, analysts, and activists often lack basic information concerning the production, transfer, stockpiling, and use of small arms and light weapons around the world. The strengths and weaknesses of various policy instruments (such as gun buy-back schemes, strengthening of export controls, codes of conduct, firearms, or ammunition marking) also need to be assessed on an ongoing basis so that best practices can be spread from region to region.

Recognizing the need to address these complex issues, the Swiss government, in conjunction with other interested governments, established the Small Arms Survey project in 1999. The project is located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland. It is also linked to the Graduate Institute's Programme for Strategic and International Security Studies (PSIS). Administered and produced in Geneva by a small, dedicated team, the work of the project is targeted at the widest possible audience of researchers, policy-makers, governments, and activists. It uses its location in Geneva and its international network of partners to foster broad-ranging understanding and in-depth research on the issue of small arms and light weapons.

Project Activities

• The Small Arms Survey: The Small Arms Survey is an annual review of global small arms issues such as production, stockpiles, brokering, legal and illicit arms transfers, the effects of small arms, and national, bilateral, and multilateral measures to deal with the problems associated with small arms.
• The Book Series, Occasional Papers, Special Reports, and Working Papers: Published periodically, these publications present substantial research findings on data, methodological, and conceptual issues related to small arms or detailed country and regional case studies. The series is published in hard copy and is also accessible on the project's web site.
• Commissioned research: The project commissions work from independent researchers, collaborators, and partner institutions. It has commissioned field research in various parts of the world, including Southern Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, East and Central Europe, the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union, Central America, and Latin America. These research findings are featured in the Small Arms Survey's various publications.
• Joint projects: The Small Arms Survey undertakes joint research projects with independent researchers, international organizations, UN agencies, research organizations, NGOs, and partner institutions.
• Electronic/hard-copy database: The electronic and hard-copy databases contain information on various small arms issues, including country-specific data. These are available for use by researchers and other interested parties at the project's office in Geneva.
• Resource Centre: The Resource Centre at the project's office in Geneva contains a number of electronic information sources as well as a comprehensive collection of print material-such as journals, magazines, official publications, and grey literature-and is accessible to researchers and other interested parties.

Contributing Partners

Established in 1999, the project is supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and by contributions from the Governments of Canada, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The Survey is also grateful for past and current project-specific support received from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, and New Zealand. Further funding has been provided by the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the Geneva International Academic Network, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

International Programme Council

The International Programme Council is the Small Arms Survey's oversight body. It includes representatives from governments, research institutes, and non-governmental organizations. It meets twice a year and is responsible for approving the broad strategic direction, administration, and budget of the project, as well as for offering advice and counsel to the Programme Director and Managing Director.

Research Initiative on Small Arms (RISA)

Risa is a multifaceted, multidisciplinary and multiyear plan designed to increase and broaden academic research on SALW. The primary goal of RISA is to engage the full range of social science research methods and techniques across all disciplines, resulting in an increase in published academic research.