Article 36 is a specialist non-profit organisation of policy and advocacy experts working to reduce harm from weapons and strengthen the protection of civilians.
Based in the UK, we work with governments, international organisations and civil society to shape international law, policy and practice on weapons and civilian protection. We combine independent research and analysis with practical policy development, long-term political strategies and coalition-building to advance meaningful change.
Pioneering new instruments
We work to develop the legal and policy instruments that strengthen the protection of civilians. Article 36 and its staff have played a leading role in major international instruments, including the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, the 2015 Safe Schools Declaration, the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the 2022 Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.
Supporting coalitions
Strong partnerships are central to our work. We coordinate, support and strengthen coalitions and partnerships with states, international organisations and civil society to advance humanitarian norms and civilian protection. These include the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Stop Killer Robots, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Cluster Munition Coalition.
Thinking differently
Article 36 develops innovative policy thinking to respond to emerging humanitarian challenges. We work to ensure that the human costs of conflict remain central to international debates. Through evidence, analysis and partnership, we promote practical approaches that work towards the full protection of civilians.
Article 36 team
Richard Moyes
Director
Richard Moyes is a Director at Article 36. He works across all our current focus areas (autonomous weapons, explosive weapons and protecting civilians) looking to develop policies and strategies that can generate political movement. Through to 2024, Richard also coordinated Stop Killer Robots, the international coalition working for a legal instrument to prohibit and regulate autonomous weapons. Previously, he played a key role in the development of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and of the Safe Schools Declaration. He promoted the framing of 'explosive weapons in populated areas' as a humanitarian issue formulation and 'meaningful human control' as an organising term in discussions on autonomy in weapons systems, and he co-produced our working in global coalitions resource.
Richard was previously Director of Policy at Landmine Action, and Co-Chair of the Cluster Munition Coalition. Prior to that he established and managed explosive ordnance disposal projects for the UK NGO Mines Advisory Group. He is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Exeter and serves on the UK Ministry of Defence's AI Ethics Advisory Panel.
Laura Boillot
Director
Laura currently focuses on policy and practice around explosive weapons and coordinates the International Network on Explosive Weapons. She recently led a project on universalisation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. She also provides organisational management. Laura has contributed substantially to our work and strategy on autonomous weapons, nuclear weapons and safe schools and our organisational expertise on ways of working and partnerships.
Laura previously worked as a Campaign Manager and subsequently as the Director of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). Prior to that she worked as Program Officer on the Control Arms campaign and for the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA).
Megan Wiseman-Searle
Operations Coordinator
Megan works across the organisation to ensure that all areas of Article 36 run smoothly. She focuses on maintaining and improving operational management systems, processes and best practices.
Megan has worked as a coordinator for multiple non-profit organisations and completed her MA in Conflict, Security and Development at The University of Sussex.
Meet the board at Article 36
Rosy Cave
Rosy Cave is a British diplomat currently serving as Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. She has extensive experience across the Middle East and Africa, having previously served as Deputy Head of Mission in Nairobi and Baghdad, and as Consul General in Erbil. Her diplomatic career has included roles in the Levant and North Africa Department, the Gender Equality Unit and the Stabilisation Unit, as well as serving as a senior adviser on conflict. Prior to joining the Civil Service, she worked for NGOs and the UN, including as Director of Programmes at Saferworld.
Jonathan Fell
Jonathan Fell is a founding partner of Ash Park Capital, a specialist fund management company focused on investments in the global fast-moving consumer goods industry. Prior to 2013 he worked as an equity research analyst following the tobacco and beverages sectors at the investment banks Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and, most recently, Deutsche Bank.
Richard Lloyd
Richard Lloyd is Chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and Senior Independent Director of the Advertising Standards Authority. He previously served as Executive Director of Which? from 2011 to 2016 and was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to the economy and consumer rights. Earlier in his career, he was Director of Landmine Action and also served as a special adviser to the Prime Minister.
Paddy Walker
Paddy Walker is managing director of the Leon Group, a fourth-generation Family Office. He co-chairs the London Committee of NGO Human Rights Watch and has a PhD in the field of autonomous weapons.
Article 36’s work has been supported by:
- Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Canadian Department of National Defence, Defence Engagement Programmers
- DeepMind
- Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Affairs (ECHO)
- Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland
- Future of Life Institute, in partnership with Arizona State University
- Global Challenges Foundation
- New Zealand Conflict and Stability Development Fund
- Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
- Open Society Foundations
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution
- Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The Counter Proliferation and Arms Control Centre, part of the Government of the United Kingdom
- The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
- The Holy See
- The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (through Irish Aid)
- The Network for Social Change
We have also received support from NGO partners, such as the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), PAX, and Norwegian People's Aid. Article 36's work is independent of its funders and civil society partners. Our statements and positions do not imply the agreement of those partners, nor do the positions of those partners and funders imply the agreement of Article 36.