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Anne-Charlotte Merrell Wetterwik
Roy Isbister
Arms Unit, Saferworld (website)
twitter: @Speedlizard1

email: risbister [at] saferworld [dot] org [dot] uk
phone: +44 20 7324 4646

Arms Trade Treaty | global trade data/trends | Europe

Roy Isbister leads Saferworld's work on conventional arms. Working with governments, parliamentarians, civil society representatives and the media, he has more than 20 years’ experience in advocating for responsible arms transfer control rules, policies and practices at national, regional and international levels.  He has edited and authored research papers, reports, policy briefings and articles on arms transfers and arms transfer controls.

He has chaired the Geneva Process on Small Arms, been the civil society member of the Board of the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms, served on the Board of the global Control Arms Coalition, and is the Coordinator of the UK NGO Working Group on Arms. 


Roy holds a master's degree in international relations from the University of Kent.

Recent Publications:​

  • "Domestic accountability for international arms transfers: Law, policy and practice," 8th report, ATT Expert Group, August 2021.*
  • "Weapons for peace?  What to expect in 2021 from the EU’s new ‘peace facility", PAX for Peace, January 2021.
  • "Arms exports, terror and crime: Reducing risk under the Arms Trade Treaty," 7th briefing, ATT Experts Group series, Saferworld, April 2021.*​
  • "Post-sale services as unlawful arms exports: A legal guide for investigators", Lighthouse Reports & Global Legal Action Network, December 2020.*
  • "Running on the spot: The Sixth Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty," Saferworld, August 28, 2020.
  • "ATT Monitor 2020," Control Arms, August 19, 2020.*
  • "The UK's Arms-to-Saudi quagmire: from tragedy to farce," Saferworld, September 20, 2019.
  • "Reviewing EU Common Position 2008/944/CFSP: Some food for thought," July 2019.
  • "‘Nothing to see here’: UK’s response to court ruling on arms sales to Saudi Arabia raises doubts about its willingness to fix problems," Saferworld (blog), June 26, 2019.
  • "Sierra Leone Arms Trade Treaty national assessment report," Saferworld, November 2018.*
  • "The beginning of the end? European arms exports for the Yemen war," Saferworld (blog), March 1, 2018.​
  • "Arms Trade Treaty report card for 2018: must try harder," Saferworld (blog), October 31, 2018.*

* indicates additional authors
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