Action on Armed Violence
Online/Digital
Action on Armed Violence seeks to reduce the impact of armed violence through monitoring and research of the causes and consequences of weapon-based violence. We have a specific focus on the impact of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and have been running a global monitor of explosive violence since October 2010.
In addition to monitoring harm, we have investigated numerous case studies of explosive weapon harm, including the long-term harm from explosive weapons in Sri Lanka, Lebanon and Syria, air strikes by NATO forces, improvised explosive device attacks by jihadist terrorists and the wide area harm of explosive weapons in Ukraine, Jordan and Israel, amongst others.
Our work is disseminated at international forums, such as the UN and we have presented evidence of explosive violence harm to the UK parliament and to numerous think tank and public debates. Our work is widely cited in the media and we are a regular commentator on armed violence internationally. For more information, please contact Iain Overton - ioverton@aoav.org.uk Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | International |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United Kingdom |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesFarage, firepower and foreign policy: the defence policies of Reform UK examined - AOAV
Executive Summary Reform UK has made defence, borders, policing and national sovereignty central to its political identity, promising higher military spending, a larger armed forces, tougher law enforcement and stronger protections for serving and former military personnel. Yet closer examination reveals a security agenda that is not always internally consistent.
Military courts miss sexual-offence trial targets for third yearBritish military courts missed sexual-offence trial targets for third consecutive year, inspection finds - AOAV
The body responsible for administering Britain's military courts has failed to meet its target for the timely listing of sexual-offence trials for three consecutive years, according to a new independent inspection. His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate found that the Military Court Service (MCS) missed its timeliness target for sexual-offence trials in 2024 and 2025, and had again failed to meet it in 2026 at the time of the inspection.
Firearms licensing system in England and Wales 'not fit for purpose', watchdog finds, echoing AOAV's concernsirearms licensing system 'not fit for purpose', watchdog finds - AOAV
England and Wales's firearms licensing system is "not fit for purpose" and should be replaced by a single national authority, the police inspectorate has said, echoing concerns raised by Action on Armed Violence over inconsistencies between police forces.
Violent music is not evidence of violent crime: putting drill lyrics on trialViolent music is not evidence of violent crime: the danger of putting drill lyrics on trial - AOAV
Between 2020 and 2023, drill and rap lyrics were used as evidence against 252 defendants in England and Wales, according to a new report from the BBC. The Metropolitan Police has now defended that practice, arguing that some musicians disclose real information about violent crimes and that, where they do, prosecutors should be entitled to use it. To some degree, this sounds sensible. A lyric containing a detail known only to a murderer might have weight in court.
UK military personnel US warships CaribbeanUK military personnel served on US warships in Caribbean during strikes condemned as "extrajudicial killings" UK military personnel served on US warships during Caribbean strikes - AOAV
Royal Navy personnel were seconded to US Navy vessels in the Caribbean during the same period that American forces began a controversial campaign of lethal strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The admission, obtained by Action on Armed Violence through Freedom of Information legislation, raises questions about Britain's proximity to operations that the UN and human-rights organisations have described as extrajudicial killings.
Russia's Dirty Dozen: an examination of Russian explosive weapons used in Ukraine - AOAV
As Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine progresses into its eleventh month, AOAV has so far recorded 9,713 civilian casualties (3,430 killed and 6,283 injured) of Russian explosive violence on Ukrainian territory. Throughout this 'special military operation,' Russia has systematically targeted towns and cities in Ukraine with wide-area impact explosive weapons.
UK capital's cold murder cases reveal a deadly racial disparity: young black men are disproportionately represented in London's unsolved killings - AOAV
AOAV's review of unsolved murders in London over the past decade has found that murder cases are far more likely to remain unresolved when the victim is a young Black man or when the killing involves a firearm. In finding this out, we hope to raise meaningful questions about how to regain community trust in London's policing, what can be done about improved witness cooperation and how to address what might seem, to some grieving families, as unequal access to justice.
UK MoD says it holds Afghanistan records EU agency cannot findUK MoD says it holds correspondence relating to Afghanistan war with EU defence agency. The EU agency says no such records exist - AOAV
The UK Ministry of Defence has said it holds information relating to correspondence with the European Defence Agency over the war in Afghanistan, despite the EU body repeatedly insisting that no such records exist. The contradiction emerged from parallel freedom of information requests submitted, who sought correspondence between the MoD and the European Defence Agency relating to Afghanistan between July 2004 and January 2022, including exchanges concerning strategic goals and state-building.
Witch hunts or war crimes? How the British media frames the SAS Afghanistan InquiryWitch hunts or war crimes? How the British media talks about allegations of SAS killings of civilians in Afghanistan - AOAV
Executive Summary This report examines how the British media has framed allegations of war crimes and cover-ups involving the SAS during the Afghanistan Inquiry. It finds a sharply ideological divide: criticism of the inquiry was concentrated almost entirely in right-wing and centre-right outlets, where investigations were frequently described as a "witch hunt", "lawfare", a betrayal of soldiers or a threat to national security.
US admits killing more than 150 civilians in Yemen strikesUS admits killing more than 150 civilians in three Yemen strikes - AOAV
The United States has formally acknowledged killing at least 153 civilians in three attacks in Yemen during 2025, including two incidents with some of the highest civilian death tolls Washington has admitted in recent years. The figures are contained in the Pentagon's latest annual report on civilian casualties caused by US military operations, mandated by Congress under Section 1057.