II. Humanitarian arms control regimes: key developments in 2016

Chapter:

14. Conventional arms control

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2017

Author(s):

Ian Davis

Many arms control and disarmament regimes have a strong humanitarian underpinning (see section I).¹ In the case of conventional technologies, much of the focus in recent years has been on cluster munitions and landmines as well as on efforts to restrict the proliferation of small arms. These efforts include steps taken to improve standards in the production, trade and use of weaponry as well as bans on an entire class of weaponry. The 1981 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW Convention) covers both approaches. The 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (APM Convention) and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) both ban an entire class of weapons. The 2001 United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (POA) provides the framework for activities to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW).²