The Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets looks at what is changing, and not changing, in relation to armed violence and small arms proliferation. Chapters on firearm homicide in Latin America and the Caribbean, drug violence in selected Latin American countries, and non-lethal violence worldwide illustrate that security is a moving target; armed violence continues to undermine security and well-being around the world. The goal of curbing small arms proliferation, embodied in the UN Programme of Action, appears similarly elusive. Chapters on illicit small arms in war zones, trade transparency, Somali piracy, and the 2011 UN Meeting of Governmental Experts highlight some of the successes and challenges in this area. Country studies examine Kazakhstan and Somaliland. The final installment of the authorised transfers project looks at the total value of exports and imports globally, including small arms and light weapons, ammunition, and parts and accessories.

Three full chapters—on authorised transfers of parts and accessories, on non-lethal firearm violence, and on illicit arms in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia—are available for download, along with chapter summaries of all chapters in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. For all previous editions of the Small Arms Survey (2001–11), all chapters are now available to download in full.

The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute. It serves as the principal international source of public information on all aspects of small arms and armed violence and as a resource for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and activists.

To obtain a copy of the latest yearbook contact Small Arms Survey

Information on previous editions:

Small Arms Survey 2011 just off the press

Just released - Small Arms Survey 2010: Gangs, Groups and Guns

Small Arms Survey 2009: Shadows of War