According to the UN News Service, Kyrgyzstan illustrates how the digitalization of small arms control can contribute to the maintenance of peace and security.
Prior to the launch of the SALIENT project, weapon registration was conducted manually at the regional level. This created problems due to paper logs and fragmented databases, making coordination and control difficult.
With the implementation of SALIENT, the first unified electronic weapon registry was established, which began operations in 2024. This system integrates all government agencies on a secure platform, allowing for online data verification, permit renewals, and weapon transfer registrations.
Additionally, the project contributed to strengthening the regulatory framework: the first National Action Plan for small arms and light weapons was developed, and an inter-agency coordination group was created, which included 14 state institutions. Licensing departments are now equipped with modern software and hardware, significantly speeding up the registration process and its tracking, as reported by the UN News Service.
The Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic, Marat Imankulov, noted that this plan aims to enhance the safety of citizens and society, as well as to strengthen both national and regional security.
The measures taken in Kyrgyzstan have increased the level of transparency, efficiency, and inter-agency cooperation, bringing the country closer to international standards for small arms management.
Alexandra Solovyova, the UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, emphasized that the organization supports national efforts to strengthen peace and security through the establishment of an inter-agency coordination group, the digitalization of the registry, and the development of the National Plan for small arms and light weapons.
Jenyshbek Arzymatov, a UNDP representative, added that it is important to maintain the achieved results. UNDP plans to continue supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan and the expansion of the digital registry throughout the country to help Kyrgyzstan achieve its goals for arms control.
Kyrgyzstan's progress was presented on the international stage during the global training event for SALIENT, which took place from September 30 to October 1, 2025, at the UN Global Service Center in Brindisi, Italy.
At the event, Arzymatov and Maksat Omorov from the Security Council Secretariat of Kyrgyzstan shared the country's experience, from the launch of the pilot digital registry to the preparation of the National Plan and strengthening inter-agency coordination.
Representatives from more than ten countries, as well as UNODA and UNDP, participated in the event. Participants exchanged experiences and discussed further steps for the development of the SALIENT initiative.
Maksat Omorov noted that Kyrgyzstan has intensified its efforts to control small arms and light weapons in recent years by conducting national workshops for civil servants, journalists, and representatives of civil society. They also developed a National Action Plan that sets a long-term vision. "When we digitized the first record of a weapon, it was not just a number on a screen – it was a step towards a peace that can be observed, felt, and trusted," he added.
For Arzymatov's team, this project is not an abstract policy but a real contribution to building peace, step by step.Furthermore, Kyrgyzstan became the initiator of establishing March 5 as the International Day for the Promotion of Awareness of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, which was approved by the UN General Assembly.
Photo on the main page is illustrative: UN.
