Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence

The Week of Action highlights the international campaign to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. This year the Week of Action took place from the 11-17 June 2012. 

We would like to congratulate everyone involved in another successful Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence. Events were organised all over the world with incredible levels of participation, impact and media coverage, illustrating again the diversity and strength of the global movement. Thank you all for sharing inspirational information, photos and media coverage from your events.  Reports are still coming in and we are working very hard to get them all up on our website. 

Participation during the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence (WoA) 2010 grew to 267 IANSA members in 102 countries confirming that the Week of Action is now synonymous with CSO solidarity on the issue.

2011 saw a wide variety of successful activities in over 80 countries, including many focusing on the UN Programme of Action on small arms, the Arms Trade Treaty and the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign. From murals in Latin America to lawyers' gatherings in Central Asia to football matches in Africa, the diversity of the movement was clearly visible with one unifying message - ‘make us safer from gun violence’.

 

Latest

India: One-day consultation on gun violence survivors’ rights

Manipur Women Survivors Gun Network and Control Arms Foundation of India, IANSA members in India, conducted a one-day community consultation to commemorate the Week of Action. The consultation highlighted survivors’ rights in conflict-ridden zones and called on the government to provide victim assistance and include provisions for it in the ATT. It also included a screening of the film, “The story of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network” and a discussion on the UNPoA. Panelists included several professors from Manipur University and civil society representatives including Mrs.

Iraq: Students and youth groups support ATT and demand legislation to limit small arms proliferation

Iraqi Organization for Rehabilitating Society and Environment, IANSA member in Karbala, Iraq distributed materials and organised several discussion sessions with university students, teachers and youth groups about the need to refuse gun violence and the dangers of small arms proliferation in communities. Participants declared their support for the Arms Trade Treaty and agreed on the importance of legislation to forbid the circulation of small arms. They called on decision-makers to work with civil society to stop gun violence. 

DR Congo: 185 banners to raise awareness about gun violence and the Kinshasa Convention

ASVOCO, IANSA member in DR Congo, put up 185 banners in schools and universities in North Kivu to raise awareness about gun violence and collect signatures for a petition demanding that the Congolese government ratify the Kinshasa Convention. 

Mali: Interactive radio show and meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs

RASALAO-Mali organised meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Commission on small arms. They also participated in an interactive radio show and held a press conference with Amadou Maiga, president of RASALAO-Mali, and government representatives on the Week of Action.

Argentina: Study shows gun violence kills 89 in 9 countries during Week of Action

Asociacion para Politicas Publicas (APP), IANSA member in Argentina conducted a study of firearm-related crimes reported in the media during five days of the Week of Action in 9 countries of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Jamaica, Guatemala and Colombia). Out of 89 homicides, 93% of the victims were men, confirming global gender and gun homicide statistics. 15 were minors between 8 and 18 years old, 59 victims were between 19 and 49 years old and 13 victims were more than 50 years old.

Nigeria: Secondary school students chant a slogan against gun violence

The Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind (SNDWM), IANSA member in Nigeria, and Save Africa on Environment by Empowerment Initiative organised a meeting with students at the Meiran secondary school in Lagos. Eduru Emmanuel, from SNDWM, presented a paper presenting the issue of SALW proliferation and its negative impact on human health and economic cost. Mr. Emmanuel emphasised that only reliable data about gun violence can serve as a viable tool for developing sustainable violence prevention interventions.

South Sudan: Roundtable discussion on the ATT

The South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA)organised a roundtable discussion on the ATT. Participants discussed the ATT Chairman’s Draft Paper and put forth various comments, which will be handed over to the South Sudan delegation that will go to the ATT Diplomatic Conference. During the meeting, eight religious leaders signed the Faith-based Declaration on the ATT.

India: Seminar on the Role of Women in Peace building & Conflict Prevention

The Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection (IIPDEP), IANSA member in India, and Nav Bharat Nirman Sangh- Hyderabad undertook a range of activities for the Global Week of Action. A seminar was held in Hyderabad, South India, which was attended by many political leaders, intellectuals, youth and policy makers. Participants deliberated on how to curb the menace of SALW and urged the Government of India to take leadership in the ATT Diplomatic Conference.

Sierra Leone: Press conference on the ATT and UNPoA

SLANSA, IANSA member in Sierra Leone, and the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms (SLeNCSA) held a joint press conference on the ATT and the UNPOA at the Commission’s Conference Room on Thursday 14 June 2012. The conference was attended by a cross section of the media and the story was carried by five radio stations, the national TV and four print media and an observer from Action on Armed Violence.

Benin: Campus debate on the ATT and UN small arms process

RASALAO-Benin, IANSA member in Benin, organised a debate on the Abomey Calavi campus in Cotonou to talk with students about the ATT and the UN small arms process. IANSA and WAANSA (West African Action Network on Small Arms) materials were distributed in the campus and banners were put up to raise students’ awareness. 

Burundi: IANSA members participate in weapons destruction session

REBAL-BUANSA, RAPACODIBU and MI-RPD, IANSA members in Burundi, took part in a weapons destruction session organised by the CNAP, the Permanent National Commission against the proliferation of SALW, in the Bubanza area. The arms destroyed had been voluntarily handed in by the population in six provinces of the country. This event was extensively covered by media, thanks to the presence of the Minister of Public Security who made a statement about the involvement of the Burundi government in the fight against the proliferation of SALW.

DR Congo: Workshop on the ATT and UNPoA

Securitas Congo, IANSA member in DRC, undertook a range of activities during the Week of Action 2012, including a press conference to launch the Week of Action and a workshop to examine the content of the ATT and the PoA’s review. Throughout the week, Securitas put up banners and aired advertising spots to raise awareness about gun violence. On Thursday, members of the organisation met with officials to advocate for the ratification of the Kinshasa Convention. 

Latin America and the Caribbean: New report on national capacities to address armed violence

Action on Armed Violence, SEHLAC (Seguridad Humana en Latinoamerica y el Caribe), CERAC  (Conflict Analysis Resource Centre), SERPAJ Ecuador, Sou da Paz and the Violence Prevention Alliance in Jamaica are launching a report looking at national capacities to address the issue of armed violence in 12 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Uganda: Workshop on gender and small arms, gun laws and the ATT

The Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), IANSA member in Uganda, is holding a workshop the Kapchorwa District in Eastern Uganda with the district task force of the National Focal Point on Small Arms. The objective is to create awareness about gender dimensions on small arms and the ATT, and to educate the participants on Uganda’s gun legislations and gun policies.  Marren Akatsa-Bukachi, Executive Director of EASSI also wrote an article the need to include ammunition in the ATT that was published in the daily newspaper the New Visio

Macedonia: Film screening, briefings for journalists and collection of signatures to improve gun policies

In Macedonia, CIVIL, the Centre for Freedom organised a range of activities. They held a conference and film screening of ‘The Story so far’ in Skopje for 100 people and collected signatures to support their recommendations to the Government of Macedonia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including support for the ATT and ways to overcome SALW issues in Macedonia. They also organised a briefing for journalists, focusing on ethnic violence, a major issue in Macedonia, and shared IANSA materials and created their own in Macedonian. 

Sweden: Campaign and rally to collect signatures for the Parliamentary Declaration on the ATT

The Swedish Fellowship on Reconciliation (SweFOR), IANSA member in Sweden, held a rally to hand out information and collect signatures for a robust ATT as part of its campaign "Stop Arms Save Life" in Uppsala, north of Stockholm.  SweFOR, in collaboration with a parliamentarian from the Parliamentary Network against SALW and the Parliamentary Forum on SALW, handed out the Parliamentary Declaration and leaflets on the ATT in the Swedish Parliament.

Nepal: IANSA Women organise event on gender and the ATT

The Institute of Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON), IANSA member in Nepal along with the Armed Violence Reduction Working Group and National Women Security Watch Group, organised an interactive workshop on the “Arms Trade Treaty and Gender”. Ms. Prassanata Wasti presented data on the security situation of Nepal since 2010. Ms. Shobha Gautam, IHRICON’s founder and president, presented her paper on the Arms Trade Treaty and Gender.

Burkina Faso: Football match, film screening and debate with youth on the misuse of SALW

RASALAO-Burkina, IANSA member in Burkina-Faso, undertook a range of activities, in collaboration with Amnesty-Burkina. They organised a workshop in Amnesty-Burkina’s head office to inform the members of the two organisations about the Global Week of Action and about the upcoming ATT Diplomatic Conference in New York, as well as a football match, a film screening and a debate with youth about the misuse of SALW in Burkina-Faso. 

Cote d’Ivoire: High-level meetings on the ATT

IANSA members in Cote d’Ivoire were very active during the Week of Action. RASALAO-Cote d’Ivoire organised an outreach activity in relation to the proliferation of small arms and the misuse of light weapons in ECOWAS countries. They met with spokespersons of the President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reinforce the need for an effective contribution by the Government of Cote d’Ivoire during ATT negotiations in New York. Amnesty-Cote d’Ivoire organised a debate on the ATT in Abidjan to raise the awareness and plead for robust and strong treaty.

DR Congo: Banners and radio messages on the impact of small arms in Eastern DRC

IANSA members in the DR Congo organised a wide range of activities. Association des Volontaires du Congo, ASVCO aired messages on the Global Week of Action on four radios stations, RTNC-Goma, RTCT, Radio Sauti ya INJILI and Radio RAU-FM. ASVCO and MONUSCO organised a march to help child survivors of the misuse of SALW talk about their cases and set up banners in school courtyards. AFIA-FEV, ADIFE Sud-Kivu and AVREO, the coalition of South-Kivu organisations, put banners on main streets and organised a workshop with political and military officials.

Sao Tome and Principe: Community weapons collection and awareness-raising session

Organização Santomense dos Direitos Humanos, IANSA member in Sao Tome and Principe organised a joint activity with the police to collect the weapons in the community and raise the awareness on the proliferation and misuse of small and light weapons. 

Benin: Press release and interviews on the proliferation of small arms

RASALAO-Benin distributed IANSA leaflets in public places, shared a press release in French and other local languages and gave interviews to the national newspaper “Evènement” and journalists at the local radio station CERDEF. All activities reinforced the campaign against gun violence and the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons in Benin.

Burundi: Recommendations collected from the field on steps to reduce gun violence

Colonie des Pionniers du Développement, IANSA member in Burundi, shared with journalists recommendations gathered by field workers, after debates were broadcasted on several radio channels, including the African Public Radio and Bonesha FM. Recommendations include improving dialogue between politicians, ratification and implementation of the Kinshasa Convention and the government’s support for a strong ATT, as well as the inclusion of both ammunition and gender in the treaty text. 

Guinea: Youth groups and students commit to working together to reduce gun violence

IANSA member INAPD (Institute of Literacy for Peace and Development) organised a conference on the consequences of gun violence at the University Gamal Abdel Nasser in Conakry, Guinea with the participation of the Guinean National Commission on Small Arms. Around a hundred civil society organisations participated and committed to work together to reduce gun violence through a national programme piloted by INAPD and the creation of an IANSA national Youth Network.

The Philippines: Women dressed in black hand over petitions to government for a strong ATT

Around 80 people, mostly women dressed in black, gathered in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to call on the Philippine government to support a strong, gender-responsive Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Participants were from the Women Engaged in Action on 1325 and from the Philippine Action Network to Control Arms led by the Center for Peace Education, Amnesty International, GZO Peace Institute and Pax Christi-Miriam College.

Belgium: Open letter urging government to support strong ATT

Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network, IANSA member in Belgium, decided to focus this week on the Arms Trade Treaty. The organisation is writing an open letter, which will be shared with all the national members of the network, so that they can diffuse it to their governments to advocate in favour of the ATT. 

DR Congo: IANSA Women march against gun violence in Eastern DRC

IANSA Women in the DRC Femmes des Médias pour la Justice au Congo (FMJC), are undertaking a range of activities this week. After having put up large banners with key messages on main streets, they broadcast advertisements and organised a march against the negative consequences of armed violence in Eastern DRC. They also met Congolese officials to encourage them to adopt the law on SALW in DR Congo and to ratify the Kinshasa Convention, and organised a workshop on the content of the ATT and the review of the PoA.

Chad: Youth activities on gun violence in schools

REPPACT (the Network for the Promotion of Peace and Citizenship), IANSA member in Chad, led awareness-raising activities with youth in schools. They highlighted the role of youth in peace-building and drew their attention to the need to regulate the trade and stop the illicit trafficking of small arms. Members have met local authorities and representatives of the Ministry of Security to emphasise the need for Chad to support a strong ATT in July, and to sign and ratify it once it has been negotiated.

Spain: Catalan Parliament makes public its full support to the ATT

Following active lobbying by the Fundacion Per la Pau, IANSA member in Spain, the Catalan Parliament has released a declaration where all the parliamentary groups expressed their support for a global ATT to regulate the arms trade.

Australia: Article on guns, sports and masculinity

Jocelynne Scut, IANSA Women’s Network supporter, wrote an article entitled 'Is the Problem Facebook? Guns, Sport and the Macho Mentality', on the current debate in Australia surrounding two Olympic swimmers who put images of themselves in a Californian gun shop up on facebook and twitter. The article references IANSA and our campaigns. It is available here.