Committed to achieving a world less affected by armed violence, the Centre for Armed Violence Reduction works with governments around the world to help them achieve their arms control and armed violence reduction goals. We deliver affordable, sustainable programmes, always in close collaboration with local stakeholders.
Sustainable Development Goals
Find out how the Centre uses the SDGs to promote arms controls and reduce armed violence.
Arms Trade Treaty
The ATT stems illicit flows of weapons. Find out more about how the Centre promotes and helps governments implement the treaty.
UNPoA
Find out more about the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects
Where We Work
The Centre for Armed Violence Reduction has implemented national and regional armed violence reduction projects with more than 30 governments. Find out more about where we work.
Effective arms control mechanisms are essential to stop the illicit flow of small arms and light weapons. CAVR specialises in the localisation and implementation of multi-lateral arms control instruments, including the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the UN Programme of Action on small arms and light weapons (UNPoA). While these instruments have seen widespread adoption around the world, the regions most in need of such tools are also those which show the lowest rates of uptake and implementation. [1] Reasons include low capacity and resources, and a lack of appreciation of the value of such helpful instruments. As a multi-disciplinary Centre, CAVR works with local governments, NGOs and civil society to adapt the aims of these instruments to local needs, history and capacity and to provide training, capacity-building and resources to ensure they are implemented effectively and sustainably.
The Centre takes a comprehensive approach to arms control, finding donors, technical expertise and tools to help diagnose and fill legislative, technical and policy gaps. Our evidence-based research and analysis is made actionable with context-specific policy recommendations determined by consensus. CAVR brings together officials in a ‘whole of government’ approach to improve cooperation and information sharing. We enlist researchers, development specialists, civil society organisations and committed individuals to ensure that arms control mechanisms are implemented holistically and effectively.
As the Secretariat of the Pacific Small Arms Action Group (PSAAG), CAVR hosts the network of civil society groups promoting the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) and associated instruments among 20 nations of the Pacific. This programme of work is supported by the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR), and others.
Among the Centre’s hallmarks in every project are accountability, transparency and integrity.
Want to find out more about our work?
[1] PSAAG, 2016: http://psaag.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Scoping-Project-FINAL_External-Version-1.pdf