Abstract

Weapons and ammunition are complementary. The access and availability of ammunition has an impact on the problem of weapons in zones of tensions and conflicts, since a weapon without a suitable projectile is useless. Currently, there is no international or regional legally binding standard to control the international trade of ammunition. Neglected until now in the international and regional regulations on small arms and lights weapons, ammunition can finally be taken into account within an Arms Trade Treaty for what they are i.e. essential killers. An Arms Trade Treaty can open the way for measures to control the production and exports of ammunition.

Keywords: ammunition, small arms and light weapons, conflicts, armed violence, United Nations, Arms Trade Treaty.