Forum on the Arms Trade

08/11/2025

We're happy to welcome 30 diverse emerging experts to the 2025-2026 Program. See their bios online
Mennah Abdelwahab, Tabitha Racheal Agaba , Nyein Nyein Thant Aung, Christelle Barakat, Manon Blancafort, Patrick Bodovitz, Natalie Bramlett, Kristoffer Burck, Yi Kang Choo, Jack Cinamon, Tereza Corradi, Esmée de Bruin, Marta Durin, Chi Fang, Luís C. Farias, Ida Andenæs Galtung, Melanie Garcia Flores, Niamh Gillen, Allie Hansen, Monalisa Hazarika, Bailey Henwood, Zain Hussain, Dominika Iwan-Sojka, Stephanie Meciar, Selma Mustafić, Abongile Nkamisa, Amanda Pereira, Chiara Rosellini, Suzie Shefeni, and Sannimari Veini.

Emerging experts have expressed an interest in addressing the humanitarian, economic and other implications of arms transfers, security assistance, and weapons use...and are at an early stage in their career.

06/16/2025

See this Joint Appeal to Uphold the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Landmines and the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (1997) and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008) are among the most critical humanitarian achievements of our time saving countless lives and protecting civilians from indiscriminate harm. Yet today, these hard-won norms are under threat.

- 3 FORMER PRIME MINISTERS
- 8 FORMER FOREIGN MINISTERS
- 3 FORMER DEFENSE MINISTERS
- 3 FORMER SENIOR UN OFFICIALS
- 1 RETIRED GENERAL
- 1 FORMER INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR
- 1 US SENATOR
- 1 NOBEL LAUREATE

have come together in this joint appeal, calling on all States to reaffirm their commitments and urging those withdrawing to reconsider, and to prevent any further erosion of the humanitarian norms we have built together.

Read the full letter here https://bit.ly/4e8kbGI

05/20/2025

Join us Thursday for "Challenges and Opportunities Posed by New Technologies and Innovation in SALW Control"
https://www.forumarmstrade.org/events.html

05/12/2025

The exponential advancement of small arms and light weapons (SALW) manufacturing, technology, and design is no longer at par with the existing regulatory instruments. The challenges posed by polymer components, modular designs, additive manufacturing, and the use of online platforms to facilitate il...

05/12/2025

04/29/2025

To assess Trump's first 100 days, ten experts offer commentaries on an array of arms trade-related issues.

To mark the first 100 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.

03/11/2025

Read commentaries today from 15 experts in the US, Colombia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom examining Trump's First 50 Days.

To mark the first 50 days in office, experts independently assess aspects of the Trump administration's policies.

01/27/2025

In Looking Ahead 2025 blog post today, Jeff Abramson concludes "In his first term, Donald Trump took a transactional and unrestrained approach to the arms trade while undermining multilateral efforts at control, and multilateralism more broadly. He is quickly on his way to doing so again in 2025. " https://www.forumarmstrade.org/blog/predicting-even-less-us-arms-trade-restraint-in-2025

01/24/2025

Check out nearly 50 recommendations and dozens of resources plus videos from the Looking Ahead 2025 event series.

January 13 - Arms Trade Issues in Europe with Sam Perlo-Freeman, Ruth Rohde, Wendela de Vries, and Frank Slijper (moderator).

January 14 - Evolving Legal Challenges to the Arms Trade with Marina Aksenova, Shahd Hammouri, James Yap, and León Castellanos-Jankiewicz (moderator).

January 15 - Moving the Humanitarian Disarmament Agenda Forward with Erin Hunt, Hine-Wai Loose, Susi Snyder, and Roos Boer (moderator).

January 16 - U.S. Border: Understanding the Guns and Immigration Link (Frontera de EE. UU.: Entendiendo el vínculo entre armas e migración) with John Lindsay-Poland, Jonathan Lowy, Laura Vargas, and Christina Delgado (moderator).

January 17 - Advice for the Next U.S. Congress and President with Sarah Harrison, William Hartung, Josh Paul, and Jeff Abramson (moderator).

https://www.forumarmstrade.org/lookingahead2025events.html

01/13/2025

It's a busy week with the Looking Ahead 2025 event series... a topic a day. Join us!
January 13 - Arms Trade Issues in Europe
January 14 - Evolving Legal Challenges to the Arms Trade
January 15 - Moving the Humanitarian Disarmament Agenda Forward
January 16 - U.S. Border: Understanding the Guns and Immigration Link (Frontera de EE. UU.: Entendiendo el vínculo entre armas e migración)
January 17 - Advice for the Next U.S. Congress and Presiden

Special series to raise the profile and provide recommendations on key arms trade and related topics for 2025.

12/31/2024

In 2025, the US Supreme Court will hear a case related to Mexico's suit against US gun suppliers. See recent 60 Minutes video that talks about this case and the broader issues.

The government of Mexico says guns from the U.S. help fuel cartel violence. Now it’s suing a major American gun maker and a handful of U.S. gun stores for billions in damages.

11/06/2024

Register now for November 7 event "Biden’s Final Two Months: A Better Approach to Arms and the Middle East"
See expert panelists and more details at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3117309222631/WN_al3Icmz0Rdq-Hey3GQzA9A