Publications
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Due diligence and corporate accountability in the arms value chain
- Liliana Lizarazo-Rodriguez, Markus Fahlbusch | 27 mars 2024
Given the nature of the products commercialised by arms value chains, and their potentially devastating impacts on human dignity, states have a strict obligation to control operators in this economic sector. But is compliance with export controls sufficient for companies to assess risks to human rights? This report analyses the possibility and necessity of establishing corporate responsibility and
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Belgian arms exports to Israel: The discrepancy between words and deeds in export control policy
- Hans Lammerant (Vredesactie) | 5 mars 2024
In this report, Vredesactie and IPIS take a critical look at Belgium’s policy on the export and transit of defense-related goods and dual-use goods to Israel. The new Gaza war puts this arms trade policy back in the spotlight. The regional governments, responsible for arms trade, regularly claim to assume the highest standards. And according to current policies, Belgium does indeed have a strin
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Small arms and light weapons transfer controls: Import, transit and trans-shipment
- Markus Fahlbusch, Peter Danssaert | 8 janvier 2024
The objective of strengthening controls on the transfer of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is to ensure a more responsible trade, counter the illicit trade and prevent armed violence and conflict. To be effective SALW control is not limited to export control. Consignments of SALW as well as their ammunition, parts, and components, need to be controlled at all transfer points, including at the
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Due diligence responsibilities of businesses involved in small arms and light weapons
- Markus Fahlbusch | 18 septembre 2023
IPIS and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) have developed a Fact sheet on “Due Diligence Responsibilities of Businesses Involved in Small Arms and Light Weapons.” For over a decade, the international community has been developing guidelines for responsible business conduct for States and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operati
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A human rights perspective on arms export licencing and access to information
- Hans Lammerant (Vredesactie) | 6 février 2023
Arms export licensing has long been dominated by two rationales: an interstate perspective and intrastate perspective. In the former arms licensing enables trust-building between nations while the latter increases government accountability. A human rights perspective is overdue in arms export licensing. Victims and their defenders should be able to pursue effective remedy when harm is in
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Contrôle après expédition des armes légères et de petit calibre
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| 4 novembre 2022
Le commerce illicite des armes légères et de petit calibre (ALPC) et de leurs munitions, pièces et éléments reste un problème international grave dans de nombreux États. Pour prévenir le commerce illicite des armes classiques et empêcher leur détournement vers le marché illicite, tous les États se sont engagés depuis 2001 à mettre en place des systèmes plus solides qui garantiront un contrôle resp
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Famine as weapon of war – A timeline of the Tigray conflict
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| 19 octobre 2022
In May 2021 CNN reported that Eritrean troops in coordination with the Ethiopian military were blocking aid deliveries to parts of Tigray not under Ethiopian government control. In an exclusive interview with Reuters a senior UN official alleged that starvation was being used as a weapon of war. U.N. humanitarian coordinator Mark Lowcock told Reuters that Eritrean forces were “trying to deal with
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La gestion du matériel létal dans les situations de conflit : actuels défis et opportunités pour la Facilité européenne pour la paix
- Eric G. Berman | 12 octobre 2022
Ce document, fruit d’une collaboration entre Eric G. Berman (directeur de l’initiative « Sauvegarde des Stocks du Secteur de la Sécurité» (S⁴)) et de IPIS, montre que les niveaux de perte de personnel en uniforme servant dans des opérations soutien de la paix dans la région du bassin du lac Tchad sous l’égide de la Force multinationale mixte (FMM), ainsi que la saisie de matériel létal p
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Children shooting children
- IANSA | 1 juin 2022
This paper aims to explain how small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation leads to extreme violence by children using guns against other children, a shocking indictment on the failure of governments to ensure strict control of such weapons. The paper will draw on examples from different countries where such incidents have occurred. It will focus on cases relating to school shootings, child
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Small arms and light weapons proliferation and violence: Estimating its scale and forms
- Peter Danssaert | 1 juin 2022
aSmall arms and light weapons are widely available and easy to use, so they are the most prominent tools in contemporary armed conflicts as well as in armed criminal and interpersonal violence in non-conflict settings. To grasp the global scale of SALW proliferation and the patterns of violence committed with SALW, this briefing paper summarizes the available data which is considered reliable from
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and arms transfers in the framework of international law
- Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert | 11 avril 2022
The international crisis and threat to world peace presented by the massive Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has thrown up difficult questions, not least of which is how the international community can assist the Ukrainian armed forces defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. In doing so, it is tempting to think of the situation only in military terms, leaving aside wha
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Africa armed violence and the illicit arms trade
- Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert | 1 décembre 2021
Brian Wood and Peter Danssaert recently contributed a chapter on Africa’s illicit arms trade to ‘Gun Trafficking and Violence. From the Global Network to the Local Security Challenge’ edited by David Pérez Esparza, Carlos A. Pérez Ricart, and Eugenio Weigend Vargas (2021). Abstract: In this chapter the authors consider major structural factors contributing to the illicit trade of small a
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Contributions to ‘The Arms Trade Treaty. Weapons and International Law (2021)’
- Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert | 1 juin 2021
IPIS is happy to present Peter Danssaert and Brian Wood’s contributions to ‘The Arms Trade Treaty. Weapons and International Law’ edited by Clare Da Silva and Brian Wood (2021). Peter Danssaert co-authored ‘Article 8: Import’ and ‘Article 9: Transit or Trans-Shipment’. Brian Wood co-edited the book and wrote ‘Article 10: Brokering’, and co-authored ‘Article 7: Export and Export Assessment’. Read t
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Africa and the regulation of transnational arms brokering: challenges to implement international standards
- Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert | 1 décembre 2020
Brian Wood and Peter Danssaert contributed a chapter on transnational arms brokering for the Ethiopian Yearbook of International Law 2019, edited by Zeray Yihdego, Melaku Geboye Desta, Martha Belete Hailu (2020). Abstract: African countries face an ongoing threat from the consequences of unregulated arms brokering but this cannot be solved by remedial action in Africa alone. Cases show t
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Annual Report 2019
- IPIS | 26 août 2020
This 2019 annual report provides an overview of IPIS’ research projects, capacity enhancement and outreach activities throughout last year. Read the full activity report to see what IPIS has been up to in 2019.
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Africa and the ‘grey market’
- Brian Wood, Peter Danssaert | 8 février 2020
Arms brokering or inter-mediation is a commercial activity within the international arms trade that is difficult to regulate. Arms brokers often operate transnationally, so often escaping or avoiding national trade controls in their home countries and the countries where transactions have taken place. Their transnational operations also create “grey” markets, which sometimes fuel illicit markets.
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Defence-related companies in Africa
- Peter Danssaert | 1 janvier 2020
Africa’s domestic defence industry remains relatively unknown. Therefore, the International Peace Information Service (IPIS) and Omega Research Foundation have compiled a database of the main entities comprising this industry, including companies that manufacture, assemble or maintain: arms and ammunition; aeronautical components; vehicles; as well as importing and management companies. This data
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Opinion on the Legality of Arms Transfers to Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates and other members of the coalition militarily involved in Yemen
- Brian Wood, Daniel Turp, Eric David, Valentina Azarova | 10 décembre 2019
This opinion addresses the legality under international law of the transfer of conventional arms and related equipment to the parties currently engaged in the conflict in Yemen. The opinion does not assess the legality of the export, import or sale of arms to those parties in the light of the domestic law of each supplying State, nor does it consider in detail the obligations of non-state armed gr
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Annual Report 2018
- IPIS | 27 juin 2019
This 2018 annual report provides an overview of IPIS’ research projects, capacity enhancement and outreach activities throughout last year. IPIS consolidated its work in DRC, Central African Republic and Tanzania and deepened its expertise on mapping, data analysis and research on conflict drivers, natural resources, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. IPIS worked closely with civil societ
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Anti-Diversion Measures. Real-Time Locating Systems
- Peter Danssaert | 20 mai 2019
Diversion is largely a self-inflicted problem that stems from negligence by states, militaries, and civilians (Small Arms Survey, 2008). The illicit trade of small arms and light weapons remains a serious problem internationally and in many countries. To prevent the illicit trade States call for responsible arms export control systems to be put in place. One solution is to prevent diversion, mostl