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| International Gun Destruction Day 2007 |
| International Gun Destruction Day, 9 July 2007, was celebrated by governments, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations holding gun destruction events and awareness raising programmes. |
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| Afghanistan |
On Gun Destruction Day firearms were simultaneously crushed in five countries to symbolise the million guns destroyed under US-funded programs since 2001. A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Kabul on 9 July. Afghanistan is one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program. |
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| Albania |
A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Tirana, Albania; one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program. The event was attended by NATO ambassadors, the Ministry of Defence, the company Armorgroup, non-governmental organisations and the press. |
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| Angola |
A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Luanda on 9 July. Angola is one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program. The event was covered in Angola Press. |
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| Argentina |
A national gun buyback and destruction program began on 10 July, aiming to reduce gun ownership and gun violence in Argentina. The six-month program will be accompanied by a public awareness campaign highlighting the danger of having guns at home. Anyone can hand in small arms in return for monetary compensation, and the weapons will be destroyed. El Litoral featured a report on the event (in Spanish). |
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| Colombia |
In Bogota there was a ceremony to melt down nearly 14,000 firearms on 9 July. The molten metal will be used to manufacture school chairs and construct a monument in memory of the victims of violence and kidnapping in Colombia. The ceremony was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Colombian Ministry of Defense. The press release is posted on our Central America page. |
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| Democratic Republic of Congo |
A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Kinshasa on 9 July. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program. The event was covered by AllAfrica.
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| Honduras |
A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Tegucigalpa; Honduras is one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program. |
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| Philippines |
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There was a symbolic burning of firearms on 9 July at the Philippine National Police Grandstand. Representatives from the UN, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine National Police and the Philippines Action Network on Small Arms (PhilANSA) attended. The welcome remarks of General Florencio Caccam expressed PNP support for arms control. General Ricardo gave a plaque of appreciation to PhilANSA in recognition for its work. The gun destruction was led by Generals Ricardo, Maligalig, Fianza and Cacam, along with Asec Garcia and Jasmin Galace from PhilANSA |
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| Sri Lanka |
One of the artworks selected for “Say No to Guns”, created by Nayomi Lansanthi, aged 13 |
SasaNet Sri Lanka organised three events to commemorate International Gun Destruction Day. An art exhibition with the theme “Say No to Guns” displayed 120 pastel drawings chosen from nearly 540 entries submitted by Sri Lankan schoolchildren. The second event was a meeting between civil society representatives and officials responsible for gun licensing. The final event was a live, hour-long radio program on the importance and relevance of International Gun Destruction Day to Sri Lanka.
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| Ukraine |
A “Millionth weapon destruction” event was held in Kyiv on 11 July. Ukraine is one of the countries where the US is funding a weapons destruction program.
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USA |
The US State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement funds small arms destruction programs around the world. Since 2001 more than one million small arms have been destroyed, along with around 90 million bullets and 21,000 surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS). On Gun Destruction Day guns were simultaneously crushed in five countries to symbolise the million guns destroyed under US-funded programs since 2001. “Millionth weapon destruction” events took place in Albania, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Honduras. A similar event will take place in Ukraine on July 11.
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