Progress in Arms Control: the Global Framework on Conventional Ammunition Management

Conventional ammunition is what makes firearms lethal, but there are additional dangers associated with them. The illegal trafficking of conventional ammunition fuels armed conflicts, organized crime and terrorism. Explosions at storage facilities for conventional ammunition cost countless lives every year. Now, the Global Framework on Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management covers this broad range of risks and helps states to prevent them.

The safe, secure and sustainable management of conventional ammunition saves lives and contributes to peace, stability and development. The Global Framework on Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management facilitates this through promoting common objectives and international cooperation. The United Nations adopted the Global Framework in December 2023 – in June 2025, diplomats met in New York to discuss how to effectively implement said Framework.

Germany has played a key role in closing this long-existing gap in the global arms control architecture from the very beginning: by chairing the Group of Governmental Experts and the Open-Ended Working Group to draft and finally agree on the Global Framework as well as by providing substantial financial support to both UN and implementing partners to work towards its broadest possible implementation.

The Global Framework will contribute to strengthening safety and human security by preventing diversion, explosions and related risks from the point of manufacture, through transfers, relocation and stockpiling, to their eventual use or disposal. The Global Framework also promotes the full, equal, meaningful and effective participation of women in ammunition management as well as multi-stakeholder cooperation by states such as with civil society, industry and research.

At the Preparatory Meeting in June 2025, the participating states agreed on the importance of international cooperation and assistance – because ensuring safe, secure and sustainable conventional ammunition management requires tailored and collective efforts.