Youth for Safer Communities: Mapping & Addressing SALW Impacts in South Asia & Indo–Myanmar

Background

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) remain one of the leading drivers of violence and insecurity in South Asia, particularly in border and conflict-prone areas of India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Their proliferation fuels armed violence, gender-based violence (GBV), organized crime, and cross-border trafficking, undermining peace and development.

Youth—the largest demographic group in the region—are both disproportionately affected by SALW and uniquely positioned as agents of peace. This project leverages youth-led research to generate actionable data and promote community-driven solutions aligned with SDG 16 and the New Agenda for Peace (Action 7: Reduce the Human Costs of Weapons).

Key Research Findings

1. Mapping SALW Flows & Youth Exposure

  • Cross-border trafficking hotspots identified along Indo–Nepal and Indo–Myanmar corridors (Small Arms Survey, 2022).
  • High youth exposure to SALW in urban slums and conflict-affected zones.
  • Weak regional coordination facilitates illicit flows.

Implication: Regional SALW regulation must integrate youth-led monitoring and border cooperation mechanisms.

2. SALW, Gender-Based & Youth Violence

  • Clear correlation between SALW prevalence and GBV, including sexual violence in conflict areas (UN Women, 2020).
  • Youth (especially men) disproportionately impacted by armed recruitment and violence.
  • Women and girls face heightened risks in SALW-proliferated areas.

Implication: SALW control strategies must be gender- and youth-sensitive, integrating WPS commitments.

3. Community Perceptions & Resilience

  • Communities identify SALW as the primary driver of insecurity.
  • Youth-led interventions build trust and resilience (UNDP, 2021).
  • Women and marginalized groups report distinct insecurities, underscoring the need for inclusive programming.

Implication: Policies should institutionalize community-centered and participatory approaches to arms regulation.

Policy Recommendations

  1. Strengthen Regional Arms Control:
    • Enhance cross-border cooperation between India, Nepal, and Myanmar.
    • Align with SAARC and ASEAN-India security frameworks.
  2. Mainstream Gender & Youth in SALW Policies:
    • Ensure 50% women’s participation in policymaking and arms control dialogues.
    • Develop youth-sensitive national action plans on arms control.
  3. Support Youth-Led Data Collection:
    • Institutionalize youth-led SALW mapping and reporting mechanisms.
    • Invest in digital tools (GPS-tagged reporting, mobile surveys).
  4. Enhance Community Engagement:
    • Build trust through participatory awareness campaigns.
    • Partner with women’s groups and local CSOs to reinforce Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agendas.
  5. Build Robust Data Systems:
    • Create regional databases with sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated SALW data.
    • Ensure ethical, secure data handling protocols.

Conclusion

SALW proliferation is not only a security challenge but also a development and human rights issue. Evidence from youth-led research highlights how SALW disproportionately impacts youth and women, while also showing their potential as leaders in reducing violence.

To sustain peace in South Asia and the Indo–Myanmar region, governments, UN agencies, and donors must invest in youth-led, gender-responsive, and data-driven SALW control strategies that align with SDG 16 and the New Agenda for Peace.

📢 Call to Action: Invest in youth. Support gender-responsive SALW control. Build safer communities across South Asia & Indo–Myanmar.

References

  • Small Arms Survey. (2022). Global Firearms Assessment Report.
  • UN Women. (2020). Arms, Gender, and Conflict.
  • UNDP. (2021). Youth, Peace, and Security in South Asia.
  • UNODC. (2020). Global Study on Firearms Trafficking.