AOAV’s Key Research Papers
11 Oct 2023London’s 2021 murders examined: key figures in the UK capital’s homicides
In 2021, London witnessed a record increase in teenage homicides primarily due to knife and gun violence, with a significant rise in cases involving male teenagers, particularly in socio-economically challenged areas like Newham.
23 Mar 202310 more civilians believed killed in RAF airstrikes over Iraq and Syria
AOAV's analysis found that RAF airstrikes in Iraq and Syria between 2016 and 2018 resulted in at least 29 civilian deaths, raising questions over the RAF's civilian casualty recording and accountability.
15 Feb 2023Assessing the effectiveness of the Arms Trade Treaty on reducing civilian harm from conventional explosive weapons in populated areas
AOAV assessed the ATT's influence on civilian harm from explosive weapons.
17 Oct 2022UK military prosecution rate in Afghanistan laid bare
AOAV's investigation found only one in 20 serious complaints led to prosecution
12 Jul 2022Killing in the Shadows: AOAV details allegations British SAS killed Afghan civilians
SAS operatives in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances: an investigation by AOAV in collaboration with BBC Panorama.
11 Mar 2022An Anatomy of the Beirut Port Blast
On 4 August 2020, an enormous explosion occurred at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon. More than 200 people were killed and over 6,000 were injured as the blast destroyed residential areas, hospitals and schools. AOAV set out to record and examine the harm caused by this unnecessary tragedy.
13 Dec 2021The Improvised Explosive Device and ‘The Propaganda of the Deed’
The IED has proliferated in an increasingly digital world, one vulnerable to both violent propaganda and, when that translates into action, the actual violence of the ‘Propaganda of the Deed’. This report examines how this happened.
19 Oct 2021Study shows 43% of 112 deminer deaths since 2005 not recorded in organisations’ annual reports
At least 112 deminers have been killed globally since 2005 whilst on operations, a study by Action on Armed Violence has found.
7 Oct 2021The United Kingdom’s Obligation to Investigate, Record and Report Civilians Casualties in Armed Conflict
The Cambridge Pro Bono Project with Action on Armed Violence
9 Jun 2021What is a grad?
An in-depth look at the history, use, and harm of Grads in modern warfare. There are currently 81 states where 122mm MLRSs are in service. In 53 (65%) of those states, the 122mm MLRS recorded is a BM-21 Grad or similar, Russian-made model.
7 Jun 2021What is a hand grenade?
An in-depth look at the history, use, and harm of hand grenades in modern warfare. AOAV’s EVM shows that grenades are often used by non-state actors who have perpetrated 27.6% of attacks between 2011 and 2020. In contrast, state actors have perpetrated 4.2% of attacks. For 68.2% of grenade attacks recorded by AOAV, the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown.
4 Jun 2021What is a mortar?
An in-depth look at the history, use, and harm of mortars in modern warfare. AOAV data indicates that 40% of all incidents of mortar harm in the last decade have been perpetrated by non-state actors. State actors account for 20% of mortar attacks and the perpetrator status is unknown for 38% of incidents.