27 March 2019
Inadequately-managed ammunition poses the dual risk of accidental explosions of ammunition sites and diversion to illicit markets, resulting in humanitarian disasters and contributing to armed conflict, terrorism and crime. In response to these challenges, the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) provide interested stakeholders with practical, neutral, authoritative guidance on ammunition management.
This week, three new practical guides on the the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs) were published by the UN SaferGuard programme.
The GICHD, through the Ammunition Management Advisory Team (AMAT) is pleased to have contributed to the development of these three publications. With Small Arms Survey, the GICHD co-authored two of the three publications: The Critical Path Guide and the Guide to Developing National Standards.
These new publications are:
Critical Path Guide to the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines https://www.gichd.org/CriticalPathToIATG/
The Critical Path Guide clarifies how the measures within the IATG are to be interpreted and applied in practice and explains technical concepts and processes in a simple, clear, and concise manner. It supports users in navigating the principles, methodology and technical conten t of the IATG.
A Guide to Developing National Standards for Ammunition Management https://www.gichd.org/NationalStandards-AM
The Guide to Developing National Standards for Ammunition Management aims to assist State authorities in the development of national standards for ammunition management based on IATG and towards implementing those standards across State institutions. More specifically, it outlines the key considerations and processes involved in the development of national standards and provides advice for the development of an organizational framework necessary for an effective, coordinated and sustainable national ammunition
Utilising the IATG in Conflict-Affected and Low-Capacity Environments
The Utilizing the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines in Conflict-Affected and Low-Capacity Environments guide offers practical information and guidance on how basic ammunition stockpile safety and security can be improved and risks reduced in ammunition storage and processing facilities in conflict-affected and low-capacity environments extracting essential elements from the IATG. This guide was developed by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), a key research partner of the UN SaferGuard Programme. The hope is that these guides will support the broadest selection of users in utilizing the IATG with the ultimate goal of “saving lives”.