All MOSAIC Modules

For guidance on the control and management of ammunition, see the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and the UN SaferGuard Programme.

What is MOSAIC?

MOSAIC translates into practice the objectives of key global agreements aiming to prevent the illicit trade, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

These include:

• the Programme of Action on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons
• the International Tracing Instrument
• the Firearms Protocol supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
• the Arms Trade Treaty.

MOSAIC modules are based on good practices, codes of conduct and standard operating procedures that have been developed at (sub-)regional levels. They have been vetted by the very best technical experts from around the world.

MOSAIC also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 16 to promote peaceful, just and inclusive societies and its target 16.4 that includes a significant reduction in illicit arms flows.

Using MOSAIC is completely voluntary.

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Who developed MOSAIC?

Governments often call upon the UN system to provide advice and support on issues related to small arms and light weapons control — including on legislative, programmatic and operational matters.

UN agencies decided that the best way to ensure that the United Nations as a whole could consistently deliver high-quality advice and support in response to such requests, was to develop international guidance on small arms and light weapons control, similar to the standards the UN developed in the areas of:

• Mine action (International Mine Action Standards – IMAS
• Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (Integrated DDR Standards – IDDRS)
• Ammunition (International Ammunition Technical Guidelines – IATG)

The compendium is the result of a decade of coordinated work within the UN system, involving 24 partner entities with expertise ranging from development and weapons management to gender and public health.
An external expert reference group of over 300 specialists, from NGOs to industry, completed the sturdy process of establishing each module.

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Who can use MOSAIC?

MOSAIC can be used by any government or organization.

Properly basing small-arms control endeavours on MOSAIC modules, reduces the risk of weapons falling into the hands of criminals, armed groups, terrorists and others who would misuse them.

MOSAIC. Good practices for safer societies.

Download MOSAIC factsheet

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MOSAIC Partners