Strengthening Peace and Security in Papua New Guinea: A National Workshop on Small Arms and Light Weapons

Port Moresby, 7–8 August 2025 – The Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) and the United Nations, through the SALIENT initiative, took a major step forward in their joint efforts to address armed violence and illicit small arms proliferation. The two-day National Workshop on Small Arms Control brought together senior government leaders, members of Parliament, diplomatic representatives, civil society organizations and technical experts to consolidate progress and chart the way forward.

A Collaborative Effort Under SALIENT

SALIENT in Papua New Guinea is jointly implemented by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNDP, UNFPA and the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) under the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). The initiative takes a holistic approach, addressing both the supply and demand drivers of armed violence—combining arms control measures with community resilience, gender-sensitive programming, and development interventions.

Evidence-Based Discussions and Technical Expertise

Day 1 focused on sharing what the UN Agencies delivering under the SALIENT initiative have provided over the past 2 years of implementation:

  • UNDP presented the results of a nationwide small arms assessment research, offering an in-depth understanding of proliferation patterns and community perceptions in Papua New Guinea, focusing on the provinces in the Highlands.
  • UNFPA and UNDP shared findings from a participatory study on the impact of armed violence on women and the social norms fueling pro-violence masculinities, complemented by the Sports for Peace initiative.
  • UNRCPD, representing UNODA and addressing the supply-side of SALW, led a session on strengthening national coordination and improving weapons and ammunition management practices, highlighting international standards, marking and tracing systems, and physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) upgrades.

Milestones Achieved

Tangible progress has been made under the SALIENT initiative in Papua New Guinea. Throughout the implementation period, UNRCPD was able to deliver:

  • Draft National Action Plan (NAP) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) – A comprehensive policy framework that will guide PNG’s arms control and violence reduction efforts.
  • Technical assessments of key armouries – Conducted to identify needs for infrastructure upgrades, enhanced security protocols, and improved recordkeeping in line with global best practices.
  • Equipment and hardware support to armouries – security enhancement measures were provided to armouries based on the technical assessment and recommendations made to ensure that weapons and ammunition are managed securely and safely.
  • Alignment with international standards – UNRCPD supported the participation of PNG government officials in key global and regional forums on SALW security, including the Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and its Asia-Pacific Preparatory Conference.

From Plan to Action

The second day shifted focus to policy implementation and multi-stakeholder engagement:

  • The Department of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council presented the draft NAP and outlined reporting to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA).
  • Partners including the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the Centre for Armed Violence Reduction (CAVR), shared opportunities for support.
  • Civil society leaders from women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and local peace initiatives presented community-driven strategies for safety and resilience.
  • Interactive group discussions produced five thematic action plans on community safety, licensing, manufacturing and acquisition, PSSM and disposal, and survivor assistance.
  • The Department of the Prime Minister and National Executive Council presented the draft NAP and outlined reporting to the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA).
  • Partners including the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the Centre for Armed Violence Reduction (CAVR), shared opportunities for support.
  • Civil society leaders from women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and local peace initiatives presented community-driven strategies for safety and resilience.
  • Interactive group discussions produced five thematic action plans on community safety, licensing, manufacturing and acquisition, PSSM and disposal, and survivor assistance.

Looking Ahead

The workshop marked the close of the first chapter of SALIENT’s work in Papua New Guinea—moving from assessment and planning to active implementation. UNRCPD will continue working closely with the UN Country Team, the Government, and partners to support the NAP’s rollout, provide technical assistance, and mobilize resources for sustained impact.

For more information, contact unrcpd-info@un.org.