Dr. Paul Holtom is a Nonresident Fellow with the Managing Across Boundaries Initiative at Stimson, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies at Coventry University (UK). His main areas of research relate to monitoring international arms transfers, promoting greater transparency of international arms transfers and strengthening arms transfer controls to prevent illicit trafficking. His most recent work has focused upon: informing the negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT); understanding Chinese policy on exports of small arms and light weapons (SALW); and strengthening efforts to prevent illicit SALW transfers. His current work is dedicated to exploring measures to assist with capacity building and other forms of assistance to ensure early entry into force for an effective ATT.
Holtom was previously a Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme and Director of the program during 2009-2013. He has also been a consultant for several NGOs (Oxfam, Saferworld, Small Arms Survey) and regional and international organisations (the Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, United Nations Development Program. Holtom was the consultant for the 2013 Group of Governmental Experts on the UN Register of Conventional Arms.
He has authored or co-authored numerous publications on the arms trade and peace and security, with a particular focus on the Arms Trade Treaty, multilateral sanctions and UN instruments related to the international arms trade. His most recent publications include: ‘Arms Trade Treaty assistance: identifying a role for the European Union’ (EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, 2014, co-author); ‘Next Steps for the Arms Trade Treaty: Securing Early Entry Into Force’ (Arms Control Today, 2013, co-author); ‘China’s Export of Small Arms and Light Weapons’ (SIPRI, 2013, co-author); ‘The UN Arms Trade Treaty: arms export controls, the human security agenda and the lessons of history’ (International Affairs, 2012, co-author); and ‘Transfers of small arms and light weapons to fragile states: strengthening oversight and control’, (SIPRI, 2012, co-author).
Holtom holds a Ph.D and MA in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Birmingham, UK. He is an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Birmingham and a member of the International Programme Council of the Small Arms Survey.
