Research Guides: Conventional Weapons and the Arms Trade: Books & Articles

Featured Books

The Arms Trade Treaty : A Commentary by Andrew Clapham; Stuart Casey-Maslen; Gilles Giacca; Sarah Parker
ISBN: 9780198723523
Publication Date: 2016
The Arms Trade Treaty: A Commentary explains in detail each of the treaty provisions, the parameters for prohibitions or the denial of transfers, international cooperation and assistance, and implementation obligations and mechanisms. This volume describes in detail which weapons are covered by the treaty and explains the different forms of transfer that the Arms Trade Treaty regulates. It covers international human rights, trade, disarmament, humanitarian law, criminal law, and state-to-state use of force, as well as the application of the treaty to non-state actors.
Commentaries on Arms Control Treaties by Stuart Maslen
ISBN: 9780199296798
Publication Date: 2006
The International Arms Trade by Rachel Stohl; Suzette Grillot
ISBN: 9780745641546
Publication Date: 2009
This book explores the complexities and realities of the global conventional weapons trade and provided an engaging introduction to the trade, the effects and the consequences of these weapons in the contemporary world.
The Arms Trade and International Law by Zeray Yihdego
ISBN: 9781841137469
Publication Date: 2007
This book tackles the core and most divisive legal problem of whether or not the laws relating to arms control and relevant norms of international law provide substantive restrictions upon the transfer of small arms by states.
Arming Conflict by Mike Bourne
ISBN: 9780230019331
Publication Date: 2007
This book argues that the arming of conflict is complexly structured and highly dynamic. It uncovers and describes the construction and interaction of structures and dynamics at global and regional levels, which shape the arming patterns of both state and non-state actors.

Selected Online Publications

Conventional Arms Control: Building the Bridge To Reduce Armed Violence: Disrupt the Supply and Demand for Arms and Ammunition
The impact of armed violence is significant in both conflict and non-conflict settings. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places arms control, peace and security squarely within the scope of prevention and development thinking and actions. Building on this Agenda, UNIDIR, together with partners, has initiated research to brings new insights into good practices and lessons-learned for integrating conventional arms control into preventative thinking and actions in achieving sustainable development. This commentary, prepared by the Igarapé Institute, contributes to this research effort by examining how addressing the supply and demand for arms can help reduce armed violence.
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17/07/2019 Robert Muggah and Katherine Aguirre
Humanitarian Arms Control: The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the Convention on Cluster Munitions
This commentary, prepared by the Igarapé Institute, examines how addressing the supply and demand for arms can help reduce armed violence. It focuses on the impact of arms-related risk integration into prevention and development related assessment and offers tools to favor further integration within the prevention and development communities. It also reflects on good practices on both a national and regional level towards these integration efforts.

Arms Trade

TAKING STOCK OF THE ARMS TRADE TREATY: UNIVERSALIZATION by Rachel Stohl/SIPRI
Publication Date: August 2021
This is one of a series of five papers that are being produced as part of a wider project aimed at taking stock of specific aspects of the ATT—its scope, the application of the risk-assessment criteria, its processes and forums, universalization efforts, and international assistance to support ATT implementation.
Conventional Arms Control: Building the Bridge To Reduce Armed Violence: Disrupt the Supply and Demand for Arms and Ammunition by 2019 Robert Muggah and Katherine Aguirre
Publication Date: 2019
This commentary, prepared by the Igarapé Institute, examines how addressing the supply and demand for arms can help reduce armed violence. It focuses on the impact of arms-related risk integration into prevention and development related assessment and offers tools to favor further integration within the prevention and development communities. It also reflects on good practices on both a national and regional level towards these integration efforts.

Conventional Weapons

UNODA Occasional Papers No.17: Promoting the Universality of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, by UNODA
Publication Date: 2009
This Occasional Paper provides an overview of the initiative by the European Union to promote accession to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). It has two main purposes: to serve as a practical tool for the promotion of the universality and strict implementation of the Convention and its protocols, and to provide comprehensive information on the partnership built in the process of implementing this joint initiative of the European Union and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in support of the CCW.

Cluster Munitions

A Guide to Cluster Munitions, GICHD - Implementation Support Unit, Convention on Cluster Munitions,
ISBN: 782940369553
Publication Date: 2016
This guide refers to the challenges in treaty compliance and best practices that have been developed within States Parties to support effective and efficient implementation of the Convention on Cluster munition. It defines cluster munitions, their use, impact and delivery along with information on the Convention’s key obligations. It also explores good practices in risk education and victim assistance, as well as other critical elements such as information management systems. The guide is completed by a close look at the legal framework of the Convention, providing clear guidance for the ratification of the Treaty.

Landmines

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (UNODA Occasional Papers No. 34) by UN Office for Disarmament Affairs
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ISBN: 9789211391763
Publication Date: 2020
This publication describes the achievements and shortfalls of the first twenty years of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, which entered into force on 1 March 1999. Published with the aim of bringing together diverse perspectives on this key instrument of humanitarian disarmament, the paper was written by pioneers and luminaries of the movement that helped achieve the Convention and that committed themselves towards realizing the Convention's full implementation. Each chapter contains discussions of an element of the Convention.