Reflections for a More Inclusive Path Forward on Ammunition Management
GENSAC commentary on this June’s GFA Prep Meetings
This June, GENSAC joined a broad coalition of stakeholders in New York for the Preparatory Meeting of States on the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA). Held from June 23–27, 2025, the meeting marked a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the first formal Meeting of States planned for 2027. While the agenda for this initial session focused mostly on procedural matters such as timelines, reporting modalities, and preparations for future meetings, it also created space to discuss themes of international cooperation, voluntary national reporting, and the importance of multi-stakeholder involvement—including civil society, in the field of ammunition management.
While small arms and light weapons often receive the spotlight in arms control discussions, it is the ammunition that enables their sustained use and, too often, their misuse. Poorly regulated ammunition flows contribute to prolonged armed violence, armed group activity, and gender-based violence, especially in regions already experiencing instability. Without effective controls on ammunition, efforts to curb the spread and impact of small arms remain incomplete. Ammunition also poses unique risks, including unplanned explosions at storage sites and diversion to unauthorized actors. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive, life-cycle approach precisely what the GFA seeks to provide. Its adoption in 2023 marked a significant milestone as one of the first comprehensive frameworks addressing ammunition and, perhaps most significantly, formally addressing the critical importance of multi-stakeholder cooperation and gender mainstreaming in ammunition management. For civil society actors working on violence prevention, disarmament, and gender equality, ammunition management is not a technical afterthought, but a critical component of building safer and more inclusive societies.
A standout theme throughout the week was the shared emphasis on gender across the GFA’s future objectives and actions. To support this agenda, civil society organizations emphasized the importance of ensuring the full, equal, meaningful, and effective participation of women in the GFA process as called for in Objective 14. These discussions were informed by a working paper submitted to the meeting by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Small Arms Survey, and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. The paper offered practical ideas for embedding gender considerations throughout ammunition through-life management. Throughout the meetings, several member states strongly advocated for this objective to be operationalized in a way that improves data collection and analysis, informs inclusive policy, and helps identify and address the differentiated impacts of ammunition diversion and misuse. Strengthening Objective 14’s implementation was seen as critical to ensuring the GFA process is not only technically sound but also socially responsive.
As a network grounded in feminist peacebuilding and the expertise of frontline civil society organizations, GENSAC welcomed the spirit of collaboration that characterized the June meetings. Many member states and United Nations (UN) actors expressed a strong commitment to making the GFA process more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to diverse lived experiences, particularly from regions disproportionately affected by poorly regulated ammunition flows.
Throughout the week, GENSAC Secretariat staff and members engaged with delegates, attended plenary discussions, participated in side events, and even formally delivered a statement to member states, which underscores three key points:
- Inclusion is Implementation: Meaningful participation of civil society organizations, especially those led by women, youth, and other historically excluded groups, is not an optional add-on but a cornerstone of sustainable arms control. We urged states to create sustained entry points for civil society in all phases of the GFA process, including future technical meetings and discussions on standards and guidance.
- Data Matters: Gender- and age-disaggregated data is essential to understand the differentiated impacts of ammunition on women, men, and marginalized groups. GENSAC reiterated the need for better data collection methodologies and a stronger emphasis on how ammunition intersects with gender-based violence, displacement, and other compounding vulnerabilities.
- Funding and Partnerships: Local actors advancing gender-responsive disarmament need predictable, flexible, and long-term funding. We called for continued investment in civil society partnerships, particularly in the Global South, to ensure national-level implementation is not only robust but also grounded in local realities.
On Thursday, June 26, GENSAC was proud to launch Inclusive Ammunition Management: A Practical Guide on Gender and Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation in the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management at a well-attended side event co-hosted by Germany and held alongside the GFA preparatory meetings. The event brought together representatives from member states, UN agencies, and civil society organizations to explore how gender-responsive approaches and inclusive partnerships can be integrated throughout the ammunition life cycle. We were honored to be joined by speakers from the governments of Germany and Tanzania, as well as representatives from the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) and Insituto Sou da Paz, all of whom provided valuable insights into why gender and civil society engagement must be at the heart of implementation efforts.
Vivica Muenkner, Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations, opened the discussion by emphasizing Germany’s strong support for international cooperation on arms control, including the central role of the GFA. “Firearms don’t just affect individuals but entire communities,” she noted, underscoring the need for systems that are not only technically sound but also inclusive. Muenkner highlighted the disproportionate impact of armed violence on women and the importance of increasing their participation in disarmament and ammunition management processes.
GENSAC’s Network Coordinator, Natalie Briggs, presented the Practical Guide at the event, shared how the tool is designed to support civil society in understanding and contributing meaningfully to the GFA process. The Guide outlines key entry points for engagement, recommendations for multi-stakeholder cooperation, and good practices in gender-responsive disarmament. Since its release, it has been widely welcomed by both civil society and government partners, and was referenced in several bilateral meetings throughout the week as a tool for capacity building, technical dialogue, and inclusive implementation.
Superintendent Rose Haule of the Tanzania Police Force described her agency’s efforts to implement Objectives 14 and 15 of the GFA by actively promoting women’s involvement in ammunition management. “My commitment includes planning to activate young women interested in this field by sharing insights and guidance on career development,” she said. The Tanzania Police Force is offering training sessions to build practical skills, promote risk awareness, and strengthen women’s leadership and peer networks—creating a more gender-diverse pipeline of experts in the sector.
Folade Mutota, Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) in Trinidad and Tobago, reminded participants that ammunition management is essential to the prevention and reduction of armed violence, and must be understood through an intersectional lens. “It’s really important to contextualize women to live the experiences through an intersectional lens and understand how relationships impact privilege and access,” she said. Mutota also highlighted her organization’s initiative, “Women’s Conversations: Women, Disarmament, Small Arms Control and Leading Change in Borderline Communities”, which aims to influence policy change from the ground up by elevating the voices of women in security-affected communities.
Carolina Ricardo, Executive Director of Instituto Sou da Paz in Brazil, spoke about the essential role of civil society in strengthening arms control. “They provide technical support, they create change at a local level, and they help raise awareness of problems and solutions,” she emphasized. Ricardo shared examples from Brazil, including the Fighting Arms Trafficking Workshop, as models of successful initiatives advancing gender-responsive, community-driven approaches to ammunition management.
Together, the panel offered a powerful testament to the vital role of civil society and the necessity of embedding gender equality at every stage of the GFA’s implementation. GENSAC hopes that this Guide—and the conversations it sparked—will continue to empower diverse actors to engage with the GFA meaningfully, and to shape a framework that reflects the realities and needs of the communities most affected by armed violence.
At the conclusion of the week, member states successfully adopted an outcome document. Member States agreed that the GFA reporting cycle should be held on a biannual basis, during the same years as UNPoA reporting. The first reporting is to be submitted in 2028. However, ahead of the Meeting of States in 2027, states are encouraged to “provide a voluntary initial overview” already in 2026. Just as for the national reporting under the UNPoA process, these reports on the GFA implementation will provide a tool for civil society to keep states accountable.
While we were encouraged by progress, the meetings also highlighted gaps that remain. Opportunities for civil society to formally contribute to technical discussions were limited, and we continue to advocate for structured spaces where diverse voices can inform policy decisions before, during, and after the Meeting of States. As we move toward the formal launch of the GFA with the first meeting of states in 2027, GENSAC will continue working with partners to strengthen civil society engagement and promote a holistic approach to ammunition management, one that reflects the realities of those most affected by armed violence.
We thank all our members and allies who contributed to the June meetings and invite others to join us as we chart a more inclusive path forward.
For more information, please see recent reports on the process prepared by Reaching Critical Will, and by IANSA. For Spanish coverage of the meetings, please see a recent blog from GENSAC partner organization Asociación para el Análisis de Políticas Públicas APP.
