The Encyclopedia is a project of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights launched on 2 December 2013. The Enyclopedia aims to provide accurate, up-to-date information on weapons, the effects of their use, and their regulation under public international law, in a format that is accessible to non-specialists.
+ Find out moreThese include artisanal and home-made weapons.Adapted from: International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) 01.20 Glossary of terms, definitions and abbreviations, http://www.smallarmsstandards.org/.
The 1997 report of the Panel of Experts on small arms specifies that ‘home-made weapons, including those referred to as “zip-guns”, are simple in design and can be constructed by unskilled people with little knowledge of such weapons. The material used may be found in almost every house or rubbish dump. Any available type of ammunition can be modified to fit these weapons.’Report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms, UN doc. A/52/298, 27 August 1997, §28 and n. 8. Their production can be tightly regulated, but more often it occurs outside of, or with limited, state control.
Last updated on: 01 February 2014