Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has a central mission: to carry out research, advocacy and field work in order to reduce the incidence and impact of global armed violence. We define ‘armed violence’ as the intentional use of force – actual or threatened – with weapons, to cause injury, death, or psychological harm. The number of fatalities from armed violence is estimated to be over half a million people killed every year. Around two thirds of these violent deaths are estimated to occur outside conflict situations. Poorer countries are particularly badly affected.
AOAV works locally, nationally, regionally and globally to reduce – and ultimately prevent – this from happening. We work with communities affected by armed violence, removing the threat of weapons, reducing the risks that provoke violence and conflict, and supporting the recovery of victims and survivors.
To this end, AOAV – whilst based in London – works in Burundi, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Western Sahara and Nigeria. There we help victims of armed violence back on their feet by offering loans and grants to run small businesses, we train up disaffected youth to help them break out of the circle of violence, we run major de-mining operations in the Sahara to prevent the devastating impact mines have on the local communities and we help monitor levels of violence in coalition with government and civil society.
Our work is divided into five main pillars:
We also carry out research and advocacy campaigns so as to strengthen international laws and standards on the availability and use of conventional weapons, to build recognition of the rights of victims and survivors of armed violence, and to research, understand and act effectively on the root causes of armed violence in affected countries. Our ambition is to make the world a safer place. Please help us in this goal by sharing our work on this webpage and letting others know what we do.
