To facilitate an increased information exchange and a deepened dialogue among parliamentarians, the Forum offers important instruments that systematically compile SALW-data from a parliamentary perspective and produces practical tools and support material for parliamentary control over sectors relevant to the prevention of small arms proliferation.

Within the Parliamentary Observatory, the Forum publishes annual reports on parliamentary activities, lessons learnt and recommendations for action on the national, regional and international levels, including analyses of Latin American, African and European countries. The first report was launched during the UN Review Conference in July 2006.

The Forum in co-operation with the UNDP has developed a guide for strengthening parliamentary control of the citizen security sector. The concept citizen security seeks to address threats to public, social, political and economic order posed by crime and violence, and fuelled by public fear of crime and generalized feelings of insecurity. Public perceptions of security, and therefore demand for small arms are, for example, closely linked to the capacity of the police to maintain the rule of law and respond efficiently. However, increased capacity is not sufficient on its own; apart from being professional – i.e. just, timely and proportional – law enforcement must also be democratically accountable to the community as a whole. The guide consists of a conceptual framework and a practical handbook section which compares lessons learned and previous experiences from parliamentary control of the citizen security sector.

For information most relevant to the Eastern European region kindly visit the following site: www.seesac.org

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