Action on Armed Violence

Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) aims to lessen the effects of armed violence by researching and monitoring its causes and consequences. Our primary focus is on the impact of explosive weapons that can cause widespread damage in populated areas. Since October 2010, we have been conducting a global assessment of explosive violence. Our efforts include examining various case studies related to the harm caused by explosive weapons. This includes the lasting effects in countries like Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as NATO air strikes, attacks using improvised explosive devices by extremist groups, and the wide-reaching impact of explosive weapons in Ukraine, Jordan, and Israel, among others. We share our findings at international platforms, including the UN, and have presented our evidence on the harm caused by explosive violence to the UK Parliament, think tanks, and public discussions. Our research is frequently referenced in the media, and we are regular contributors to discussions on armed violence worldwide. For further details, please reach out to Iain Overton at [email protected].

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Sudan's crisis: as nations gather in London to address two years of war, global action is never more needed

1 week ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

As Sudan enters its third year of brutal conflict, the international community faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that demands immediate and sustained action. On April 15, 2025, world leaders will gather in London for a high-level conference co-hosted by the United Kingdom, the European Union, France, and Germany. The primary concern of this conference should be the protection of civilians, ensuring unfettered humanitarian aid access, and holding perpetrators accountable for war crimes.
Former British Army General urges caution over potential UK peacekeeping deployment to Ukraine

1 week ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

A former British Army general, Major General Tim Cross, has issued a call to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging them to visit the memorials to the dead in the Royal Memorial Chapel at Sandhurst before making any final decisions on the proposed deployment of peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.
Q&A: the Patriot Air Defense System in Ukraine – a briefing note - AOAV

1 week ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, the need for advanced air defence systems to protect civilian areas from Russian missile attacks remains critical. The Patriot Air Defence System has become a key part of Ukraine’s strategy to safeguard civilian lives. In this Q&A, AOAV explores the current status of the Patriot systems in Ukraine, the challenges Ukraine faces in acquiring these systems, and the financial implications of their deployment.
The wages of sin? As BAE Systems’ sees its revenue surge by 14% in 2024, the ethics of profiting from conflict and civilian suffering have to be contemplated - AOAV

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

Where there is war, so there will be those who profit from its waging. And so it is. BAE Systems has announced a 14% increase in revenue and record profits for 2024, a blood-tinged testament to the unrelenting forces of global capitalism. But these profits, built on the foundation of weapons, war, and violence, demand deeper scrutiny.
The argument for stronger gun licensing and regulation in the UK

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

The issue of gun violence in the UK is not simply one of isolated incidents or bad luck—it is a consequence of systemic flaws in the way we regulate firearms. For too long, the UK has failed to implement effective gun control policies, and the result has been a troubling rise in gun-related violence, domestic abuse, and femicide. It’s time for a politicaloverhaul of our approach to firearms regulation, one that prioritises public safety, transparency, and evidence-based policy.
Greenpeace UK and arrests at the US embassy: a call for action on arms sales to Israel

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

On April 10, 2025, six Greenpeace UK activists were arrested outside the US Embassy in London after they poured blood-red dye into the embassy’s ornamental pond. This act of protest was a statement against the United States’ continued arms sales to Israel, a policy that Greenpeace argues is exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Tracking firearm violence and its impact on dental health: a hidden feature of gun violence

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

The link between violence and public health has been well-established, but a recent study has revealed an unexpected connection between firearm violence and oral health. Higher rates of gun violence in neighbourhoods are associated with lower rates of dental care utilisation and higher rates of tooth loss, or edentulism, according to researchers at Rutgers University.
In the UK's development of hypersonic weaponry, perhaps let's not move too fast: a call for a public debate

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

A recent joint announcement by the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the successful testing of a hypersonic missile engine represents a significant leap in military capabilities. Hypersonic weapons, defined by their ability to travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, offer unprecedented advantages in terms of speed and manoeuvrability.
When humanitarians become targets: the unacceptable violence against aid workers by the state of Israel

2 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

The killing of eight Palestinian aid workers from the Red Crescent Society in Gaza last week is not only a tragedy — it is a travesty of international humanitarian law. Their bodies, found buried beside their crushed ambulances, still wearing the very uniforms meant to shield them, mark a grave moment for the global community. These men — Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer, Ezzedine Shaath, and five others — did not die in the chaos of indiscriminate shelling.
Trump’s new arms sales push: when profit trumps morality and what we must do about it

3 weeks ago | aoav.org.uk | Iain Overton

Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to sign an executive order that would make it even easier for the United States to sell weapons abroad (as if there aren’t enough US weapons globally). It’s a move that strips away already fragile safeguards, favours the arms company giants, and steps firmly behind that 2nd Amendment lie that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun (ignoring who is the good guy in this scenario).