Introduction

Weapons are invariably used as bargaining chips in peace processes and are an essential focus of peacemaking and peacebuilding. Yet this focus is generally limited to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programmes. However, the prevention and reduction of armed violence requires addressing a range of concerns, including regulating guns in the hands of civilians and other private actors; the establishment of appropriate institutional and legislative frameworks; transforming violent conflict resolution, and the misuse of weapons.

Negotiating Disarmament includes a range of activities such as analysis of how weapons control and violence reduction are negotiated in specific peace processes; thematic briefing papers on issues such as reintegration, guns in the hands of civilians, bombs and explosives and trends in provisions in peace agreements related to weapons control, DDR and survivors of armed violence;  compilations of opinion pieces from mediators, members of armed groups, government officials and analysts; the development of a database of weapons and violence related clauses from peace agreements concluded during the last 30 years; convening of experts meetings on discrete themes; and, working with armed groups on matters related to DDR and weapons control.