Incremental Steps towards the International Small Arms Control Standards

Abstract

Poor weapons storage will not result in a catastrophic event such as an explosion if ammunition is not present. It may, however, increase the risk that weapons are stolen and used illegally. International best practice for weapons storage is drawn from the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS), but the complete adoption of these standards, particularly ISACS 05.20, comes with significant expense. As the cost of meeting the full standards may be prohibitive, this Operational Guidance Note (OGN) is intended to act as an aide memoire for the incremental application of the ISACS in resource scarce settings. To do this, it draws on the Risk Reduction Process Levels (RRPLs) outlined in the IATGs, where Level One is the lowest standard requiring the fewest resources, and Level Three is the highest, most resource intensive standard, that is fully compliant with international best practice.