Geneva

Strengthening Gender-Responsive Small Arms Control Across Regions 

As 2025 comes to a close, the Gender Equality Network for Small Arms Control (GENSAC) looks back on a year defined by collaboration, innovation, and impact. Around the world, our members and partners have continued to advance gender-responsive approaches to small arms control and armed violence prevention, from strengthening national implementation of the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management, to shaping policy dialogues and building the capacity of civil society to advance inclusive disarmament.

With activities spanning Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Western Balkans, and beyond, 2025 reaffirmed the importance of putting people, and particularly women and marginalized groups, at the center of arms control policies. Through research, convening, and advocacy, GENSAC continued to connect practitioners, policymakers, and researchers—helping bridge the gap between global frameworks and local realities.

Yet, 2025 has also been a year of growing geopolitical tension and political polarization. Around the world, we have witnessed shrinking civic space and increasing pushback against gender equality, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. In this context, GENSAC’s mission has never been more urgent. Gender-responsive small arms control is not a peripheral issue—it is central to preventing violence, protecting lives, and building societies rooted in equality and justice. At a time when hard-won gains are being challenged, our work—and the collective efforts of our members—stand as a reminder that inclusive peace and security cannot be achieved by turning away from gender perspectives, but only by doubling down on them.

To celebrate the close of the year, we’re pleased to share our 2025 GENSAC Year-in-Review Blog, highlighting just some of the milestones, partnerships, and moments that defined our shared work.

1. Webinar on Data and Organized Crime (March 2025) 

In March, GENSAC partnered with APP/SEHLAC and the Peace in Our Cities network to host a webinar on the role of data in understanding and responding to organized crime and its gendered impacts. The discussion highlighted how improved data collection and analysis can inform policies addressing the proliferation of small arms, gender-based violence, and femicide. By bringing together experts and practitioners, the webinar aimed to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and promote data-driven approaches to long-term peace and security.

2. Speaking at the Joint United Nations (UN) General Assembly–ECOSOC Meeting on Small Arms and Light Weapons (March 2025)

In March, GENSAC was invited to speak at the Joint General Assembly–ECOSOC meeting focused on small arms and light weapons (SALW), contributing perspectives on gender-responsive approaches to preventing armed violence. The intervention emphasized the disproportionate impacts of SALW on women, girls, and marginalized communities, and highlighted the importance of linking gender equality commitments with concrete arms control measures. This participation helped elevate gender considerations in high-level UN discussions and reinforced the role of civil society networks in shaping global policy debates.

3. Launch of the “GENSAC Suggests” Newsletter and Member Spotlight Series (May 2025)

This year, GENSAC introduced a new newsletter feature called “GENSAC Suggests,” designed to spotlight relevant research, tools, events, and opportunities for members across regions. Each edition curates practical resources on gender-responsive arms control, violence prevention, and related policy processes—helping strengthen knowledge exchange within the network. The new series has quickly become a useful platform for staying informed and sharing learning across the diverse GENSAC community. We’ve also been pleased to highlight some of our members’ impressive work through the GENSAC Member Spotlights, and we remain enthusiastic to continue both of these communications in the year ahead. 

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4. Launch of the Practical Guide on Inclusive Ammunition Management at the GFA Preparatory Meeting (June 2025)

In June, GENSAC launched its new Practical Guide on Inclusive Ammunition during a dedicated side event at the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition (GFA) preparatory meeting. Building on the network’s ongoing work to mainstream gender perspectives across arms control processes, the guide offers practical recommendations for integrating gender-responsive considerations throughout ammunition management. The side event gathered policymakers, UN partners, and civil society organizations to discuss how inclusive approaches can strengthen national implementation and mitigate the gendered impacts of ammunition diversion and misuse. This launch marked an important step in advancing GENSAC’s efforts to translate global commitments into actionable tools for practitioners on the ground. Deborah McFee, a GENSAC member from the Caribbean, also delivered a statement on behalf of the network at the preparatory meeting. 

5. Engagement at the Arms Trade Treaty CSP11 and Networking Side Event (August 2025)

In August, GENSAC participated in the Eleventh Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT CSP11) in Geneva, engaging in discussions on implementing ATT obligations to address the gendered dimensions of the arms trade. Alongside formal participation, GENSAC participated in a side event that brought together government representatives, civil society, and gender experts to exchange priorities and explore collaboration on gender-responsive arms transfer controls. This presence helped ensure that gender perspectives remained visible within ATT deliberations and strengthened connections with partners advancing similar goals at global and national levels. GENSAC’s Regional Focal Point for Africa, Ms. Armelle Ndongo, also read a statement on behalf of the network. 

6. Humanitarian Disarmament Forum (October 2025)

GENSAC and the Forum on the Arms Trade co-hosted the 2025 Humanitarian Disarmament Forum. GENSAC participated through a dedicated panel discussion exploring the intersecting impacts of gender, disability, and armed violence. The session highlighted how people with disabilities experience heightened risks related to small arms proliferation and conflict-related insecurity, while often remaining overlooked in policy responses. By elevating disability-inclusive perspectives, the panel sought to advance a broader conversation on intersectionality in disarmament and reinforced GENSAC’s commitment to ensuring that policy solutions leave no one behind.

7. Regional Seminar in Panama (October 2025)

In October, GENSAC members from across Mexico and Central America gathered in Panama City, Panama, for a two-day seminar titled “Promoting Peace and Gender Equality: Regional Contribution to the Implementation of International Instruments on Arms Control and the Prevention of Armed Violence and Arms Trafficking. The event, organized by Fundación Arias for Peace and Human Progress in coordination with GENSAC, and hosted by Panama’s Dirección Institucional de Asuntos de Seguridad Pública (DIASP), brought together over 30 representatives from government institutions, law enforcement, and civil society to strengthen collaboration and deepen understanding of international frameworks on arms control and gender-based violence prevention. The seminar demonstrated the value of building capacity in real time across countries and sectors, including between civil society and security force officials. The meeting also reinforced South–South collaboration and helped identify priority actions for 2026, ensuring that regional voices remain central to shaping GENSAC’s agenda moving forward. Read more about the seminar: (English | Spanish)

8. GENSAC–SEESAC Information Session on Gender and Small Arms (November 2025)

In November, GENSAC co-hosted an informational convening with SEESAC focused on strengthening gender-responsive approaches to small arms control in the Western Balkans. The session provided an opportunity for members to learn about ongoing regional initiatives, good practices, and emerging challenges in implementing gender commitments across SALW policies and programming. By deepening engagement with regional partners and sharing lessons learned, the session strengthened collaboration and knowledge exchange among practitioners working toward inclusive and sustainable security in the region.

9. Participation in UNLIREC’s Women Forces of Change Symposium in Lima, Peru (December 2025)

In December, GENSAC took part in the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC)’s Women Forces of Change symposium in Lima, Peru, which convened leading practitioners, public officials, and researchers working on arms control and citizen security across the region. The discussions underscored the importance of centering women’s expertise in security policymaking and highlighted the links between small arms, organized crime, and gender-based violence. GENSAC’s participation helped strengthen regional partnerships and contributed to a growing conversation about how gender-responsive small arms control can advance both public security and gender equality across Latin America and the Caribbean.

10. Digital Campaign on Gender and Arms during the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV (November–December 2025)

Together with Amassuru and SEHLAC, GENSAC launched a regional digital campaign to amplify the Armas y Género bulletin during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, positioning the three organizations as key voices on the nexus of firearms and gender in Latin America. The campaign combined multimedia content—including video clips, interviews, and social media graphics—with boosted outreach across several countries to disseminate key findings, highlight authors, and draw attention to the gendered dynamics of firearm access and use. Through sustained engagement over several months, the initiative helped broaden public awareness and reinforced collaborative advocacy on gender-responsive small arms control across the region.