Publications

This Best Practice Guide applies exclusively to state-owned stockpiles of conventional ammunition for military, paramilitary, security and police forces of a participating state in accordance with section II and III of the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (FSC.DOC/1/03, dated 19 November 2003). All other ammunition, such as ammunition in private possession or ammunition used for non-conventional weapons like NBC weapons or other CBRN devices, is excluded. It contains information especially useful for those who are working on establishing national policy and procedures. Consequently the information and recommendations provided may be used as a basis for developing policy guidance, general operational guidelines and procedures on all aspects of ammunition marking, registration and record-keeping.

The aim of this best practice guide (BPG) is to provide guidance for the effective management and security of national Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) stockpiles. This guide is intended to help establish high common standards and serve as the basis for the development, application and facilitation of further national standards in the field of improving national stockpile management and security.

This revised Guide was drafted by the government of the United States of America with review and recommendations submitted from the United Kingdom, Russian Federation and OSCE Field Offices.

This best practice guide was originally drafted and developed as Annex C – Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) to the Best Practice Guide on National Procedures for Stockpile Management, Security and Destruction by the governments of the United States of America, Germany, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Russian Federation, Sweden and Turkey. This revision establishes a stand-alone, best practice guideline on National Procedures for Stockpile Management, Security and Destruction of Man-portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), drafted by the government of the United States of America with review and recommendations submitted from Germany, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, Switzerland and OSCE Field Offices.

The Best Practice Guide on Deactivation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) suggests minimum standards, approaches and procedures to ensure the permanent deactivation of SALW, and provides recommendations on how to incorporate these into national norms and legislation. The Guide details concrete measures for the participating States to take in marking and record-keeping of weapons and also puts forward technical specifications for the deactivation of SALW. It also contributes to the OSCE efforts in preventing diversion of SALW in the OSCE area and beyond. First adopted in 2018, the Guide has been reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains relevant and applicable. In recognition of the importance of ensuring irreversible SALW deactivation, the OSCE minimum standards have been strengthened by a number of technical updates for rendering SALW and their essential parts permanently inoperable.

The paper provides an analysis of OSCE participant States responses to the voluntary reporting on Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) through the annual information exchange on the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security. It provides a better understanding on the scope and impact of PMSCs in the OSCE area and identifies ways to foster a thoughtful dialogue among participating States on the nature and regulation of PMSCs.

Small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition can pose a serious threat to societies. The OSCE works with the organization’s 57 participating States to mitigate these risks.

This commemorative study is about history, development, achievements and outreach of the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security – the OSCE’s key document for the democratic control of the armed and security forces. The purpose of the study is to raise awareness of the Code and improve its implementation and outreach. It is intended for the general public including the media, NGOs, and in particular parliamentarians, practitioners, experts and academics dealing with the Code in all its aspects.

This report is structured in four main parts. The first part outlines the methodology and approach taken for this study. The second part details the analysis and main findings in the obligatory reports of participating States, while part three comments briefly on findings in the voluntary reports on Women, Peace and Security. Part four covers the recommendations on the current reporting, as well as recommendations on the Questionnaire and the Reference Guide should there be a decision to revise these documents in the future.