This  Guide is designed for national law makers tasked with supporting or leading the review of SALW legislation, in addition to others, such as UN staff in-country or civil society organizations, who may engage in, or support a review process. It is intended to provide practical information on the process to review SALW legislation, on key issues and factors that should be considered and to outline the measures that states may consider when reviewing their legislation. The specific objectives of the guide are therefore to help practitioners to:

• Understand the basic requirements and recommendations of international and regional SALW instruments;
• Assess the relevance and comprehensiveness of their respective national legal frameworks governing SALW;
• Assess whether all legal issues governing the possession, use, production, sale and transfer (import, export and transit) of SALW are covered, or at least, considered in the framing of legislation; and 

• Address deficiencies within existing legal frameworks.