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

Kenya: Press conference on the Week of Action

The Kenya Action Network on Small Arms (KANSA) held a successful press conference at the Hilton Hotel Nairobi on the Global Week of Action and the ATT. The event was covered by journalists from almost twenty print and electronic media outlets in Kenya and was aired by Citizen Television. KANSA is also organising a community dialogue event in Huruma on Friday and prayer meetings on Sunday.

DR Congo: Discussion on the links between UN Security Council 1325 and the fight against gun violence

CJR/1325 (the Centre for Studies on Justice and Resolution 1325), IANSA member in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is holding a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister to advocate for the implementation and ratification of the Kinshasa Convention. The Centre has also launched a debate on how to link implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security with the fight against gun violence.

Burundi: Radio broadcasts calling on government to support a robust Arms Trade Treaty

The Colonie des Pionniers de Développement (CPD), IANSA member in Burundi, is working with local media, including the African Public Radio and the National Public Radio of Burundi to raise citizens’ awareness of the issues of gun violence and the importance of the government’s support for a strong Arms Trade Treaty.

Rwanda: Students discuss gun violence

Bethesaida, IANSA member in Rwanda, led a training workshop to discuss the means to reduce the misuse of SALW and organised debates with women in the area of Kigali. They are also working with pupils from the schools of the district to think about SALW and issues related to gun violence.

Discussion with parliamentarians to ratify Kinshasa Convention

CAMYOSFOP, IANSA member in Cameroon, held a discussion with Members of Parliament on the Diplomatic Conference on the ATT and the need for Cameroon to ratify the Kinshasa Convention on small arms and light weapons. The Leader of the SDF Parliamentary Group, Hon Joseph Banandzen, informed them that the bill for to ratify the Kinshasa Convention will be received for scrutiny. CAMYOSFOP will also be meeting with the officials of the Ministry of External Relations on the role of Cameroon in the upcoming Diplomatic Conference on the ATT.

Cameroon: IANSA Women on national radio interactive programme

Women in Alternative Action - WAA Cameroon were the main guests on the National Radio CRTV broad audience interactive programme Morning Safari. The interactive, call-in programme was geared towards bringing attention to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Diplomatic Conference in July 2012, the UNPoA Review Conference as well as on the need for the Cameroon Government to ratify the Kinshasa Convention and to harmonise the draft firearms law proposed by WAA Cameroon to Ministries and Parliament.

Burundi: Training on gender and small arms for representatives of the DRC, CAR and Burundi

In Burundi, the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) is conducting a  training on gender and small arms for representatives of the DRC, Central African Republic and Burundi, all Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) Member States. The expert trainers were trained by IANSA Women at EASSI and come from the Burundi National Focal point on SALW. The objective of the training is to sensitise participants about the gender dimensions of small arms and light weapons.

DR-Congo: Broadcast on Radio Umoja in Fizi Territory

IANSA member AVREO in the DR-Congo broadcast a message annoucing the Week of Action Against Gun Violence 2012 on Radio Umoja in Fizi Territory. Clashes between the FARDC and Mai Mai have prevented them from transmitting further broadcasts on the Tuugane radio station.

Spain: Meeting on the ATT in Barcelona

In Barcelona, the International Catalan Institute for Peace (ICIP) is organising a talk on the Arms Trade Treaty with Xavier Alcalde, ICIP researcher and Jordi Armadans, and director of Fundació per la Pau (Peace Foundation), IANSA member in Spain. Both will share their perspectives on the preparatory committees and the upcoming diplomatic conference.

Switzerland: Student films support ATT campaign

AI Switzerlandproduced four short videos in English with a class of art students in Zürich to support the ATT campaign. Watch the videos on the Amnesty Switzerland website here.

West Africa: Football match raises awareness on the ATT

West African Amnesty International Sections are organising a football match to raise awareness for the Golden Rule in the Arms Trade Treaty. AI Sections participating in the tournament are: AI Benin, AI Burkina Faso, AI Mali, AI Senegal, AI Togo. The big finale will be on 16 June. Meanwhile, AI Côte d'Ivoire is organising a public debate and AI Mali has already collected over 10.000 signatures for the Global Appeal.

DR-Congo: Students discuss Kinshasa Convention at the University of Goma

M. Mwenebatende Dufina Tabu, president of the Association des Volontaires du Congo (ASVCO) gave a presentation to students of the University of Goma, following by a Q&A session on the week of action campaign, gun violence and the Kinshasa Convention. The students all expressed the wish to participate in a conference on small arms control and to encourage others to sign a petition calling on the central government of the DRC to ratify the Kinshasa Convention. Following the discussions, students decided to collect signatures on Friday at the university.

Cote d’Ivoire: Visit to the Presidency to discuss the Week of Action and the ATT

The President of the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) and Co-Chair of the IANSA International Advisory Committee, Baffour Amoa, was received by the Presidency of Cote d'Ivoire, where he took the opportunity to bring attention to the Week of Action and request Cote d’Ivoire's support for a strong and robust ATT during the Diplomatic Conference in July. Visiting Cote d’Ivoire from 10-15 June, the President of WAANSA also called on civil society to join the movement against gun violence and the proliferation of small arms.

DR-Congo: IANSA Women call for stronger gun laws and ratification of the Kinshasa Convention

Femmes des Médias pour la Justice au Congo (FMJC), IANSA Women in the DR-Congo, organised a Week of Action launch event. 49 people attended, including journalists and activists. In his opening speech, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that the misuse of guns is not only the basis for violations of human rights and humanitarian law, but also discourages investments and prevents economic growth. Ms.

Cameroon: Youth call for a strong and binding ATT

The Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP) released a press statement calling onthe government of Cameroon to take the lead in pushing for a strong andbinding ATT. In the days ahead, CAMYOSFOP will meet with officials of the Ministry of External Relations for a face-to-face discussion on the role of Cameroon in pushing for a stronger ATT during the Diplomatic Conference. CAMYOSFOP will also participate in a number of TV and radio talk shows on the ATT and the UNPoA.

Mexico: Conference on the international regulation of the arms trade from the perspective of survivors

In Mexico, the IANSA Survivors Network, along with its Mexican partners, is organising a conference on “The International Regulation of the Arms Trade: The Perspective of the Victims of Armed Violence”. Roberto Dondisch, the head of the Mexican delegation to the Arms Trade Treaty Diplomatic Conference will be a keynote speaker and the Norwegian Embassy will be a guest of honor.

Amnesty International: Film screenings on the effects of the arms trade in Poland

In Lublin, Poland, the local Amnesty group is organising workshops on arms control and the ATT and screening two films: 'Eyes and Ears of God', about the atrocities in Sudan and 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields', both demonstrating the effects of the arms trade in conflict zones.

Amnesty International: Activism at international arms sales exhibition in Paris

In Paris, Amnesty France and partners organised a successful event in front of Eurosatory, an international security and defence exhibition displaying a wide range of arms for sale, including small arms and light weapons. Pictures are available here.The President of Amnesty France wrote an article on the international arms sales exhibition and the ATT in the French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur.

Amnesty International: Children share stories of gun violence in Mexico

In the lead up of the G-20 summit in Los Cabos, next week, Amnesty International Mexico is participating in a national contest co-organised by Save the Children and the G-20 presidency (Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs). The children of AI Mexico staff members recorded messages about real cases of armed violence in Mexico and asking the G-20 for strong controls on the arms trade. The stories most “liked” in the contest will be taken to the negotiations.

Amnesty International: Guerrilla marketing campaign in Australia

Amnesty International Australia are doing a guerrilla marketing campaign using bloodied bullet hole imagery stickers in public spaces, such as bus stop ads, train station poster ads and toilet door signs, in order to catch the attention of passers-by. The aim is to make the public curious and go online to sign onto the Global Appeal.

Georgia: Women of Ozurgeti say “No gun violence!”

Georgian IANSA women of the Fund Sukhumi have joined the Week of Action campaign. Members of the Ozurgeti Club of Women-Voters from Western Georgia gathered in the Ozurgeti Centre of Civic Engagement and shared their common position: “No war! No violence! No armed conflicts!” Among the participants was Nino Nikolaishvili, a journalist of the local newspaper “Alioni”, who will cover the campaign.

South Africa: Radio broadcast to reduce illegal guns

IANSA member Gun Free South Africa is partnering with Primedia, South Africa’s leading media group, to run a campaign to encourage 3 million radio listeners to participate in the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence by reporting illegal guns and illegal gun use to Primedia’s crime fighting initiative, CrimeLine. The advertisement is being broadcast from 11 to 17 June 2012 on the national radio stations 702 Radio, 567 Cape Radio, Kfm, and 94.7 fm.

Amnesty International Global Tweet-a-thon, DRC Report and Campaign Video

As part of their ongoing strategy to apply pressure on the “Big Six” arms exporters, Amnesty International is having a global Tweet-a-thon targeting the foreign ministries of the USA, UK, France, Russia and China during the Global Week of Action. Each day AI will target one of the “Big Six” countries. On Day 1 of the Global Week of Action, tweeters targeted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who responded in turn with a positive tweet on the ATT.

India: Rural youth rallies

Rural Development and Youth Training Institute in India organised two rural youth rallies against gun violence. The rallies took place in the Mandar-Gar and Jaspura villages in the Kota District, Rajastha. About 175 rural youths, farmers, women, and girls and boys actively participated in the campaign. All the participants made a vow that they will not tolerate armed violence or the misuse of guns in their communities.

Cameroon: IANSA Women meet with government authorities to call for strong ATT

Women in Alternative Action Cameroon held discussions with authorities of the Ministry of External Relations in Cameroon to bring attention to the forthcoming ATT conference and the need for quick ratification of the Kinshasa Convention and to call for improvement of Cameroon’s gun policy.

Colombia: Film screening and workshops

In Colombia, Redepaz Antioquia is organising film screenings, discussions and workshops about gun control and human rights violations at gunpoint. For more information, see http://www.redepazantioquia.org/

New Article on the Arms Trade Treaty: "'International Community’: To Syria, What Is It Good For?"

Daniel Mack of Instituto Sou da Paz and member of IANSA’s International Advisory Council (IAC) has written an article on the massacres in Syria and the need for a robust Arms Trade Treaty entitled “‘International Community’: To Syria, What Is It Good For?” The article is available here.

UN Office for Disarmament statement in support of the Week of Action 2012

The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, has called on governments to work with civil society during the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, 11-17 June 2012. In her endorsement of the WoA, Ms Kane highlighted the importance of small arms control in the global disarmament agenda.

Announcing the dates for the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence

The Global Week of Action against Gun Violence 2012 will take place from the 11-17 June. Every year, activists from all over the world join the Week of Action, demonstrating the strength of the global movement against gun violence.

New report from IANSA member in Burundi

Colonie des Pionniers de Développement (CPD), an IANSA member in Burundi, has published a new report outlining their activities in the second trimester of 2011.