This report provides an overview of the different stages of the complex process of small arms and light weapons proliferation.

Offering a general conceptual framework for policy-making and analysis, it also tries to highlight gaps and weaknesses in current intervention strategies as well as areas in which future work should be done.

The report concentrates on, but is not restricted to, the role of formal international actors (regional and global organizations, security and non-security oriented) and national governments in stemming or countering the effects of the small arms proliferation process.