Mainstreaming Gender in the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons

Small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation is a global concern, with profound implications for security, conflict, and human rights. This paper explores the vital but often overlooked dimension of mainstreaming gender considerations into SALW control policies and practices. By examining gender-specific impacts and challenges associated with SALW, we advocate for an inclusive approach that not only recognizes the disproportionate effects of SALW on women but also acknowledges the complex roles of women in conflict and post-conflict settings, and how men are sometimes the victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Drawing on comprehensive case studies, the paper elucidates the multifaceted relationship between SALW and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), highlights the importance of gender-sensitive legislation and training, and calls for gender-responsive policy frameworks. This paper underscores that mainstreaming gender in SALW control is a matter of both compliance and a moral imperative to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.