On February 12, the Forum on the Arms Trade convened a webinar exploring the critical role of firearms marking and record-keeping in stockpile management, diversion prevention, and traceability. This event brought together field investigators, policy researchers, and technical experts to examine how strengthening national systems can disrupt trafficking networks and enhance accountability. Panelists discussed the technical limitations of current marking methods, the challenges of digitizing fragmented databases, and the importance of international cooperation in line with the UN Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI). The discussion bridged high-level policy perspectives with practical field experiences from West Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Video of the event is available at: https://youtu.be/vFt4dx3NP2o
Video of the event is available at: https://youtu.be/vFt4dx3NP2o
Experts shared how marking codes (such as ECOWAS standards) allow investigators to identify the point of diversion from state stockpiles to illicit groups. Case studies from Burkina Faso highlighted how marking internal components can link separate terrorist attacks to a common transit point.
The importance of tracking a weapon from manufacture or import through to destruction was emphasized. Currently, many systems only capture segments of a weapon's life, leading to "fragmented records" that hamper tracing. While new technologies like laser engraving, chemical taggants, and RFID offer precision, experts stressed that the "basics", such as moving away from paper-based systems to secure, searchable digital registries, remain an urgent priority globally. A significant portion of the webinar focused on whether modern markings can withstand obliteration, with case studies of the specifics of laser markings restored by forensic laboratories.
Panelists
Recommendations
1. Accelerate the Digital Transformation of National Record-Keeping Systems
Member States are encouraged to prioritize the transition from manual or fragmented record-keeping to integrated, digital life-cycle management systems. Such modernization facilitates the creation of a "single source of truth," ensuring that national registries employ transaction-based logic to maintain a comprehensive history of ownership, upholding the principles of transparency and accountability.
2. Establish Technical Standards for Marking to Ensure Forensic Recoverability
Recognizing that the permanence of markings is vital for successful tracing, it was recommended that relevant authorities and manufacturers adopt standardized technical specifications. Specifically, to enhance the prospect of forensic recovery following attempted obliteration, experts proposed examples of best practices from their past and ongoing research.
3. Promote the Harmonization of Data Protocols and Technical SOPs
To facilitate seamless international cooperation and information exchange, member states are urged to align their data entry protocols with globally recognized standards, such as the INTERPOL Firearms Reference Table. Such harmonization minimizes discrepancies in the classification of calibers and models. Additionally, the development and institutionalization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential to bridge the gap between domestic record-keeping and regional or international tracing frameworks, thereby strengthening the global response to illicit trafficking.
4. Strengthen the Capacity of National Firearms Focal Points (NFFPs)
States are encouraged to designate or enhance National Firearms Focal Points (NFFPs) to serve as central hubs for the systematic collection and analysis of firearms data. By integrating registry information with ballistic intelligence, NFFPs can develop "proactive intelligence" capabilities. This strategic approach enables the identification of emerging trafficking trends and illicit flows in a timely manner.
Suggested Resources
*This event was inspired and led by a working group of the Forum on the Arms Trade’s emerging expert program, with more events to be announced. The Forum provides a platform for sharing of views but does not itself take a position.
The importance of tracking a weapon from manufacture or import through to destruction was emphasized. Currently, many systems only capture segments of a weapon's life, leading to "fragmented records" that hamper tracing. While new technologies like laser engraving, chemical taggants, and RFID offer precision, experts stressed that the "basics", such as moving away from paper-based systems to secure, searchable digital registries, remain an urgent priority globally. A significant portion of the webinar focused on whether modern markings can withstand obliteration, with case studies of the specifics of laser markings restored by forensic laboratories.
Panelists
- Ashley Hamer, Senior Investigator, Conflict Armament Research
- Callum Lloyd, Senior Project and Research Coordinator, Arquebus Europe
- Silvia de Pedro, Project Advisor, UNLIREC
- Natalia Pollachi, Project Manager, Sou da Paz Institute
- Monalisa Hazarika, Emerging Expert, Forum on the Arms Trade (moderator)*
Recommendations
1. Accelerate the Digital Transformation of National Record-Keeping Systems
Member States are encouraged to prioritize the transition from manual or fragmented record-keeping to integrated, digital life-cycle management systems. Such modernization facilitates the creation of a "single source of truth," ensuring that national registries employ transaction-based logic to maintain a comprehensive history of ownership, upholding the principles of transparency and accountability.
2. Establish Technical Standards for Marking to Ensure Forensic Recoverability
Recognizing that the permanence of markings is vital for successful tracing, it was recommended that relevant authorities and manufacturers adopt standardized technical specifications. Specifically, to enhance the prospect of forensic recovery following attempted obliteration, experts proposed examples of best practices from their past and ongoing research.
3. Promote the Harmonization of Data Protocols and Technical SOPs
To facilitate seamless international cooperation and information exchange, member states are urged to align their data entry protocols with globally recognized standards, such as the INTERPOL Firearms Reference Table. Such harmonization minimizes discrepancies in the classification of calibers and models. Additionally, the development and institutionalization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential to bridge the gap between domestic record-keeping and regional or international tracing frameworks, thereby strengthening the global response to illicit trafficking.
4. Strengthen the Capacity of National Firearms Focal Points (NFFPs)
States are encouraged to designate or enhance National Firearms Focal Points (NFFPs) to serve as central hubs for the systematic collection and analysis of firearms data. By integrating registry information with ballistic intelligence, NFFPs can develop "proactive intelligence" capabilities. This strategic approach enables the identification of emerging trafficking trends and illicit flows in a timely manner.
Suggested Resources
- Slides
- ”International Exchange of Information in the Context of Firearms Control,” REGISYNC project, Policy Paper, October 2023.
- “Effective and Innovative Practices among European Civilian Firearm Registries,” REGISYNC project, 2023.
- Bruno Langeani, Natalia Pollachi, “Blind Fire: The Rise of Military-Style Firearms amid Regulatory Failures and Data Deficiency in Brazil,” Journal of Illicit Economies and Development,” September 2025.
- [Portuguese only] Detailed analysis of seized firearms in the Southeast region of Brazil (2018-2023), Sou da Paz.
- “The growing and multifaceted global threat of privately made and other non-industrial small arms and light weapons,” Working paper from Small Arms Survey, Instituto Sou da Paz, and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), June 2024.
- The FireCycle Solution https://arquebus.uk/products/firecycle/
- Project VISTA https://www.projectvista.eu/
- Joshua Bata and Erica Mumford, “Can Arms and Ammunition Flows Data Inform Conflict Early Warning and Early Response?” May 2023
*This event was inspired and led by a working group of the Forum on the Arms Trade’s emerging expert program, with more events to be announced. The Forum provides a platform for sharing of views but does not itself take a position.
RSS Feed