Argentina
After experiencing high levels of gun violence and several cases of mass shootings in the 2000s, Argentina implemented a national framework to prevent the proliferation of weapons and ammunition in the country and classified gun-related violence as a public health issue. It notably established a National Programme for the Voluntary Surrender of Firearms, which allowed the government to collect and destroy about 300,000 guns and two million rounds of ammunition.
The country’s Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) capacities are considered efficient, and Argentina notably received assistance over the years by UNODC and UNLIREC to improve its weapons and ammunition stockpile management and disposal capacities.
Source: World Future Council, “Arms control exchange: from Argentina to Bosnia and Herzegovina”, 30.06.14, https://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/arms-control-exchange-argentina-bosnia-herzegovina/; Alyn Ware (ed.), Disarmament Handbook. Assuring our Common Future. A guide to parliamentary action in support of disarmament for security and sustainable development, 2020, https://disarmamenthandbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/disarmament-handbook-2020_v07.pdf; Natasa Loizou, “El desarme voluntario como política pública del Estado”, El Pais, 07.07.22, https://www.pagina12.com.ar/435284-el-desarme-voluntario-como-politica-publica-del-estado; Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos Argentina, “Desarme Voluntario”, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/justicia/anmac/pevaf; FuturePolicy.org “Argentina’s National Programme: Surrender of Firearms”, February 2015, https://www.futurepolicy.org/culture-of-peace/argentinas-national-programme-for-the-voluntary-surrender-of-firearms/; David Gacs et al., “Explainer: Gun Laws in Latin America’s Largest Economies”, AS/COA, 26.08.21, https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-gun-laws-latin-americas-largest-economies; UNODC, “UNODC participates in the destruction of 25,000 firearms in Argentina”, August 2016, https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/firearms-protocol/news/unodc-participates-in-the-destruction-of-25-000-firearms-in-argentina.html; Arms Trade Treaty Assistance, “UNLIREC Provides Assistance to Argentina in Weapons Destruction and Stockpile Management”, May 2013, https://att-assistance.org/activity/unlirec-provides-assistance-argentina-weapons-destruction-and-stockpile-management.
Launch the country dashboard
Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, one accidental explosion was reported in Argentina (Table 1).
Table. 1 Accidental explosions in Argentina (1979-2021)
Year | Location | Owner/manager | Deaths | Injuries |
1995 | Cordoba | State (military) | 7 | 300 |
Source: UEMS Database (December 2021); Small Arms Survey. ‘Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)’. https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Argentina.
Disposal
Destruction, use, or export of ammunition as an indicator of a state’s ability to identify and decrease aging, unsafe, or surplus ammunition.
To decrease the above-mentioned risks of accidental explosions and diversion, Argentina has disposed of approximately two million rounds of ammunition since 1992 (information in tonnes unavailable).
Source: Natasa Loizou, “El desarme voluntario como política pública del Estado”, El Pais, 07.07.22, https://www.pagina12.com.ar/435284-el-desarme-voluntario-como-politica-publica-del-estado; Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos Argentina, “Desarme Voluntario”, https://www.argentina.gob.ar/justicia/anmac/pevaf.
Needs
Further requirements for an effective through-life management of ammunition in the country.
No needs have been reported for Argentina.
