Biting the Bullet

Biting the Bullet is a joint project between International Alert, Saferworld and the University of Bradford which began in 1999. Its original aim was to contribute to a better-informed debate on small arms issues in preparation for the 2001 UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. The conference resulted in the 2001 UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, a politically binding international agreement on preventing and reducing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Following the agreement of the Programme of Action Biting the Bullet now works to promote international understanding of key issues relating to its implementation, while creating opportunities to discuss critical issues that proved controversial at the 2001 Conference.

The project has three main strands of work:

1. Policy Briefings
2. Biennial Progress Reports
3. Consultative Group Process

Other work around the Programme of Action

Policy Briefings
The first set of policy briefings were produced in the run-up to the 2001 Conference and examined key issues for discussion such as weapons stockpiles, private military companies and the impact of arms on children. These briefings had a significant impact on the policies of many governments who attended. They have also been well received by many NGOs as source of information on small arms proliferation. Click here to access the briefings via our publications pages.

Subsequent to the Conference, and in the interest of continuing discussions on issues which had proved to be controversial, Biting the Bullet produced a number of follow-up briefings on issues not resolved, or not covered, at the 2001 meeting.

• Download our briefing on Regulation of Civilian Possession of Small Arms and Light Weapons
• Download our briefing on Strengthening Embargoes and Enhancing Human Security
• Download our briefing on Ammunition Stocks: Promoting Safe and Secure Storage and Disposal

More recently, various implementation briefings were produced in the run-up to the June 2006 Review Conference, assessing progress against the implementation of the Programme of Action.

• Download our briefing on global implementation
  
• Download our briefing on national implementation
  
• Download our briefing on implementation in Africa
  
• Download our briefing on implementation in the Americas
  
• Download our briefing on implementation in Europe
  
• Download our briefing on implementation in South Asia
  
• Download our briefing on development and implementation
  
• Download our briefing on implementation in international small arms transfers
  

Biennial Progress Reports
After the Programme of Action had been agreed in 2001 Biting the Bullet began working to promote international understanding of key issues around implementation and, in preparation for the follow-up UN conference in 2003 produced a report on the implementation of the Programme of Action by member states. This report, based on information from 156 states, contained information from organisations all over world about their governments’ progress in implementing the Programme of Action took stock of progress so far and identified strengths, weaknesses and priorities for the future.

A new report was produced for the second Biannual Meeting of States in July 2005 drawing on data from 180 countries and analysing relevant local, national, regional and international processes.

Finally, a third report in 2006 aimed to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review and analysis of progress towards implementation of the Programme of Action in the lead-up to the June 2006 Review Conference.

Download our report on implementing the Programme of Action 2006
Download our report on implementing the Programme of Action 2005
Download our report on implementing the Programme of Action 2003

Consultative Group Process
One of the project’s key initiatives has been to form a Consultative Group Process involving government officials from numerous countries around the world, international experts and non-governmental organisations. The purpose of the group is to come together to discuss controversial issues that were not included in the Programme of Action, in particular export controls and transfers to non-state actors. The Group met five times to explore these issues and discuss recommendations prior to the 2006 Review Conference.

Other work around the Programme of Action
The 2001 Programme of Action contains only one reference to gender and this is in the Preamble, meaning that it risks important social factors that promote small arms-related violence.

Click here to find out more about our work to promote greater gender sensitivity in the implementation of the Programme of Action and in any recommendations and revisions that were made in 2006.

For more information contact Charlotte Watson

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Last updated: June 2006