Email Alastair McKay (IANSA Communications Officer) for the contact details for the organisers of these events.
Antigua and Barbuda
* Youth group in the news
De'ann Helen Brodie, President of Antigua’s youth empowerment group COPPY (Civil Organisation Promoting Peace in Youth) gave an interview on the increasing levels of gun violence for the Antigua Broadcasting Station (ABS) for the ‘Good Morning Antigua’ breakfast show. Clips of the interview were also shown as the lead item in the 7pm evening news on 15 June.
Argentina
* Parliament backs DDV campaign
Argentine parliamentarian Deputy Luciano Fabris raised awareness about the Week of Action and the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign by introducing a bill, and promoting it on the congress website. On 16 June, Maria Pia Devoto, Maria Paula Cellone, Althea Middleton-Detzner of Asociación para Politicas Públicas met with the Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the DDV campaign. Andrea Mariño, Sociologist and Project Coordinator at FEIM, and other with Advisers from the Women’s Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined the discussion. As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now fully supports the campaign and has agreed to promote future activities. The Foreign Affairs Adviser invited Asociacion para Políticas Públicas (APP) to present the campaign to the Gender Sub-commission within the NGO Commission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
* Street launch for DDV campaign
The public policy group APP organised outreach activities at the Callao metro station in Buenos Aires on 19 June. Newsletters were circulated with details about the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign, including resources for women or potential victims. Other campaign materials such as keyrings, stickers, and wristbands proved popular. APP staff were on hand to explain the campaign. APP also met with gender experts from the National Council of Women to share materials, discuss the launch of the campaign and future collaborations.
* ATT petition launched
Amnesty International in Argentina launched an online petition calling for US President Obama to support the Arms Trade Treaty.
* Candlelit protest in Buenos Aires
Amnesty International and the national disarmament network (Red Argentina para el Desarme) held a candlelit event on 20 June at Plaza Moreno in Buenos Aires. Representatives from 10 NGOs lit more than 300 candles to remember gun violence victims. Activists also distributed flyers and information about the proliferation and misuse of small arms in Argentina. The event was organised in coordination with CLAVE (Latin American Coalition for Violence Prevention). AI sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking him to participate in the next ATT meeting in New York.
Click here to read the full report of Week of Action activities in Argentina. MDZ Online covered the activities of the week on 18 June and 24 June.
Belize
* UN celebrates global week
The country offices of UNDP and UNICEF issued a media release about the week. “Our efforts to create safe spaces in communities must continue to be accompanied by other actions to curb the movement, availability and use of weapons”, said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Country Representative. On 15 June, Channel 5 TV news included an interview with UNICEF’s program coordinator.
Brazil
*Seminar on gun control
The Brazilian Disarmament Network organised a successful seminar about gun control in Brasilia. Over 50 representatives from the government, NGOs and civil society participated. They discussed the implementation of Brazil’s gun control laws.
*Video campaign
Sou da Paz has launched a viral video campaign that asks people to respond by making their own homemade videos about armed violence. So far, they have had nearly 1,000 viewings! During the candle light event on Saturday 20 June, they will also be filming people's testimonies.
* Peace convoy rolls on
The National Convoy on Disarmament continued its progress around Brazil visiting Goiânia, Palmas and Maceió. According to Gabriela de Carvalho Dutra of Viva Rio, the focus of the Convoy is the implementation of the national gun control policy and public mobilisation for the first National Conference on Public Security, to be held in August 2009..The Convoy has visited 12 cities so far, with good media coverage and strong attendance by government officials, religious groups, local NGOs and academics.
* Giant cake commemorates lost birthdays
A giant artificial birthday cake with candles on top was displayed at Plaza da Sé in São Paulo in remembrance of those who have died as a result of gun violence. Sou da Paz activists spread the word about Brazil’s high toll of gun-deaths in an event which ran simultaneously with others organised by CLAVE in Latin America. Several newspapers and the agencies Terra and Agencia Brasil covered the event.
Canada
* The Disarm Domestic Violence campaign was launched at the opening of the 1st Annual Canadian Conference on the Prevention of Domestic Homicides. On 15 June, Maribel Gonzales of Project Ploughshares gave a presentation which made the links between small arms proliferation and domestic violence. Her address also explained how small arms proliferation could be controlled (internationally and in Canada), and the need to attack the forces which drive demand for small arms, while promoting international advocacy on the issue.
The conference took place at London Convention Centre, London, Ontario, on June 14-15. It was organised by the University of Ontario's Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children, one of five centres which make up the Alliance of Canadian Research Centres on Violence. The aim of the conference was to enhance research and practice collaboration to review and prevent domestic homicides. Click here to download a flyer from the event.
* Disarm Domestic Violence campaign
The international Disarm Domestic Violence campaign was backed by Canada’s Coalition for Gun Control on 16 June. Coalition president Wendy Cukier said: “Although gun violence takes different forms in different countries, there is a common theme: where there is easy access to firearms, there are higher rates of women and children killed with guns. The Global Week of Action is a good opportunity to draw attention to the fact that in spite of the differences, whether in Canada, South Africa, Australia, Trinidad or Brazil we share common goals: safe communities.” Click here to view the press release.
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis have joined the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign. They work to end violence against all women and children, offering shelter, support and advocacy, as well as a 24-hour phone line to women survivors of emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse in Guelph and Wellington County.
* Film launches DDV campaign
The Disarm Domestic Violence Campaign was launched in Guelph, Ontario, with the screening of the documentary, ‘Devil's Bargain: A Journey into the Small Arms Trade’. The event was organised by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, Project Ploughshares and the Centre for Research and Education on Violence against Women and Children.
Chile
* AI presses government on ATT
During the Week of Action Amnesty International Chile pressed the Chilean government to promote the ATT in the upcoming UN meeting in July. On 28 June, a giant artificial candle was placed at Plaza Italia in Santiago to remember gun violence victims. This event was organised in coordination with CLAVE. The web news service Adital reported on the event.
Colombia
*Gun amnesty, seminar, toy gun exchange
For the first time, Medellin's week of action was supported by local government, which organised events designed to promote civilian disarmament. Police displayed 55 rifles and ammunition which they had recently seized, and civilians were encouraged to voluntarily hand in their guns. IANSA members from Bogota participated in a seminar on the problems caused by civilian possession of guns, after which the city council extended a ban on carrying guns in the city. Bus and taxi drivers pledged not to carry guns, and children swapped toy guns for other toys. On television, the role of women in disarmament was discussed.
* Peace rally in Bogota
A peace rally was held in Bogota on June 19 to mark the Week of Action. Community leaders, women’s groups, gun violence victims and NGOs marched down the streets of Ciudad Bolivar, a neighbourhood seriously affected by armed violence. Local music bands and dance groups also joined the march, which was organised by Redepaz and the local government, in coordination with CLAVE. The Bogota municipal government has banned the carrying of guns in public places until 3 July. At the same time the city will hold a gun buyback and a full program of seminars and cultural activities on the theme of disarmament.
* Fathers pedal for disarmament
Colectivo Dignidad Humana held rallies in Plaza de Caycedo, the central park in Santiago de Cali and in the government square, which attracted over 150 members of the public on 16 and 17 June. On 18 June they organised an awareness day at 'Garces Luis Horacio' health centre. Over 50 medical staff, paramedics and patients were involved. Awareness-raising also took place at the 'Colegio Hogar' school with students and teachers. On 19 June a discussion was held at the University on armed violence prevention, especially the impact it has on the lives of women within the home.
On 21 June (Father's Day in Colombia) the campaign message was promoted at a sports facility in Caleña. They urged men "to pedal for disarmament" and distributed campaign materials to over 1000 people. Colectivo spokesperson Gisselle Salazar was interviewed by Channel Telepafico.
Costa Rica
* School visits explain gun dangers
Fundacion Arias visited three high schools in San Jose to explain the threat posed by small arms. This followed increasing concern in Costa Rica about students bringing guns to school. Fundacion Arias also wrote to parliamentarians asking them to amend the national firearms law and to regulate arms transfers.
Dominican Republic
* Report on guns and development
1,679 were shot dead during 2008 in Dominican Republic, a country of 9.7 million people, according to a report about development and armed violence released during the Week of Action in Santo Domingo by ICED (Caribbean Institute for Lawful States) and FUNCEJI (Community of Hope and International Justice Foundation). Both organisations issued press releases about the impact of gun violence on social and economical development, which were picked up by the newspapers 7 Dias and Clave Digital.
Ecuador
* Quito by candlelight
More than 1000 people gathered in Plaza de la Independencia in Quito on June 24 to light candles in memory of gun violence victims. During the event, SERPAJ activists gave out postcards about small arms control and collected information about people’s ideas on security issues. The answers will be used to write a letter to the government and conduct media outreach work. During the week, SERPAJ had sent a letter to the Minister of Government urging him to tighten the national firearms legislation. The candle light event was organised in coordination with CLAVE.
El Salvador
* Big splash for DDV and ATT campaigns
CEMUJER launched the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign at the Monument to the Constitution in San Salvador on 14 June. They displayed posters and distributed flyers with statistics about gun homicides and illegal firearms in the country. Reporters from Radio YSUCA, the newspapers Co Latino and El Mundo, and five TV channels attended the event. CEMUJER members also gave interviews on the need for the Salvadorean government to support a strong ATT. A second event was held on 15 June at the University of El Salvador. Activists shared their views about gun violence and wrote peace messages.
During the week CEMUJER has actively supported the DDV campaign, writing letters to Parliament, the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, the police, and the public prosecutor, urging them to make a public statement rejecting violence against women and children, and to work towards strengthening the laws that protect them. The Parliamentary Commissions on Public Security and Narcotics and the Commission on Family, Women and Childhood are now discussing CEMUJER’s proposals.
* Ballistics training begins
UNDP El Salvador is hosting a training program on the identification of guns and ammunition, aiming to improve the processing of evidence for criminal cases in the courts. The course will take place on 23 June and 4 July, with participants from the Ministry of Defence, the National Police, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Supreme Court of Justice. It is part of a program supported by UNDP called ‘Strengthening institutional capacity to prevent armed violence’.
Guatemala
* Guatemala: Events highlight gun toll
IEPADES and other NGOs in Red por la Vida (Network for Life) held a street festival, a workshop and press conference to publicise information about recent amendments to the national Firearms Law. Journalists were given profiles of several members of Red por la Vida who have been shot dead this year.
* Peace rally by candlelight
Young people gathered at Plaza de la Constitucion (Guatemala City) on 20 June and marched to Plaza San Sebastian where they lit candles to remember gun violence victims. Participants read poems and rock groups sang songs rejecting violence. The event was coordinated by IEPADES and CLAVE. The event received media coverage including the Prensa Libre.
Haiti
* Call for widespread gun law reform
The Justice and Peace Commission urged the population of Cayes in the South of Haiti to participate in Sunday’s Senate elections in a calm and non-violent way. Adrien Dissicile for Justice and Peace said the message was passed on in churches throughout the Global Week of Action. The Commission also released figures showing that 240,000 small arms were circulating in Haiti, and condemned the government for taking no decisive action to combat proliferation. The group urged the Haitian government to ratify the UN Convention against transnational organised crime and Protocol on arms trafficking. The Commission’s proposals included: a crackdown on illegal weapons; a strengthening of laws on gun ownership; a new system of gun registration; a solution to the problem of guns circulating within the government.
The statement concluded: “Human coexistence should not be based on the weapons in the hands of citizens. The State and the police must ensure that citizens can feel and live without fear.”
Honduras
* Young marchers demand tougher firearms law
A march through the streets of Tegucigalpa attracted 2000 people on June 19, followed by a candlelit vigil for victims of gun violence in Parque Central. There were also songs, poetry readings and dancing. During the march, young demonstrators demanded that the government reform the national firearms law which currently allows people as young as 18 to own five guns. The event was jointly organised by UNDP and CIPRODEH (Research Centre on Human Rights).The event was featured by six TV channels; the radio stations Radio America and La Primerisima; the dailies El Herado, La Tribuna and La Prensa; and UNDP, Yahoo Noticias and Impre.Com.
During the week, CIPRODEH members met with Defence Minister Edmundo Oreyana and congressman Gabo Alfredo Jalil to argue for stronger firearms laws. CIPRODEH activists in Santa Rosa de Copan publicised the Week of Action on five TV channels, one of which broadcast a video about gun violence.
* Students mobilising against gun violence
Throughout the week UNDP Honduras organised events in high schools in four regions of the country: Juticalpa, Choluteca, Comayagua and Comayagüela. Activities included workshops on gun violence and poetry, painting and sport competitions. Students also attended film screenings and participated in marches and balloon release events in their cities. On Friday 19 June, more than 1200 students travelled to the capital (Tegucigalpa) and participated in the march that had been jointly organised with CIPRODEH.
Jamaica
* Jamaica: anti-guns advert released, leaflets distributed on peace walk
The impact of the Guns Off The Street project was discussed at a meeting between UNDP Jamaica, the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery New York, and the Kingston and St Andrew Action Forum. The meeting was shown the 40-second Guns Off The Street advertisement which is being launched as part of the Global Week of Action.
Media activities included an interview on Hot 102 radio station’s Today programme. Host Beverly Manley talked to KSAAF President Godfrey Lothian, Jonathan Burke (Program Manager UNDP Jamaica), Paul Moreira (Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery New York), and a representative from the Women’s Outreach Resource Center.
In the evening of 16 June, IANSA and KSAAF flyers and badges were distributed in Torrington Park, the scene of a four-year war which ended in 2007. Young American Business Trust, Women Outreach Resource Center, Social Development Commission and United Nations Development Program participated in the walk.
* Calls for ‘guns off the streets’
Presentations on gun violence were given at a town hall meeting with residents of Jones Town, one of the most gun-affected neighbourhoods of St Andrews. Gangs in the community had been engaged in long-running conflict with the nearby Torrington park neighbourhood. The event was jointly hosted by the Kingston and St. Andrew Action Forum (KSAAF) and UNDP Jamaica, and allowed participants to discuss ways to reverse Jamaica’s legacy of gun violence.
Mexico
* Men in uniform should not bring their guns home
In San Cristobal de las Casas, Guadalajara and Mexico City campaigners have contacted radio stations and newspapers to tell them about the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign. On June 17, in San Cristobal de las Casas the group COLEM spoke about the campaign in their radio programme Aquelarre on Frecuencia Libre 99.1 COLEM also presented the campaign to local women’s groups, some of whom have agreed to collect data on domestic violence in the Chiapas region. Martha Figueroa from COLEM said: “This campaign will help us put pressure on the government so men who belong to the police, the army and private security companies will not be able to carry guns when they are not on duty. Then they will not be able to bring their guns home”. On 22 June CIMAC Noticias carried an article about COLEM's activities 'Armas y violencia en el hogar: peligro para las mujeres' on their website.
* Regional seminar on ATT
The regional meeting for the Americas on the ATT was held in Mexico City on 18-19 June, organised by UNIDIR and funded by the European Union. It was a meeting of states, but several members of IANSA and CLAVE attended: Marisol Alonzo of Guatemala for IEPADES, Cesar Marin of Venezuela for the IANSA Secretariat, and Maria Pia Devoto from Asociación para la Políticas Publicas in Argentina. They urged Latin American governments to support a strong ATT. UNIDIR’s Deputy Director, Christiane Agboton-Johnson, mentioned the Week of Action during the opening ceremony. The meeting received wide media coverage.
Nicaragua
* Candlelit protest in city park
More than 300 people gathered in Managua on 20 June for a candlelit protest against gun violence. The event was held in the park of Villa Venezuela, a neighbourhood where it is common for young men to carry guns. Monica Zalaquett from the organisers CEPREV said: “During the event, we highlighted that real men do not need to carry guns; that masculinity is not associated with guns”. The event was covered by the TV programme 100% Noticias and the newspaper Nuevo Diario. The event was one of several held simultaneously in Latin American cities by members of CLAVE (Latin American Coalition for Violence Prevention).
Panama
* Campaign to revive gun law reforms
Civil society organisations have joined with parents’ groups, the police and the Episcopal Church in demanding that the new government revive the reforms to the gun law which died when the national election was held in May. Vicente Blake of SERPAZ (Servicio y Paz Panamá) said the reforms had been about to go through the Congress when the government changed. He hopes the new government will respond to popular pressure and agree to move quickly on gun control.
Paraguay
*
Media blitz, and request to the Minister for Women
Coordinadora para Asentamientos Espontáneos (Committee for Spontaneous Settlements) started the Week of Action with media outreach to print and broadcast journalists, and have requested a meeting with the Minister for Women to discuss the aims and objectives of the Disarming Domestic Violence campaign.
* Gun victims mourned
A remembrance service for Paraguay’s victims of gun violence was held in Panteon de los Heroes Square in Asuncion on 20 June. A total of 835 candles were lit in memory of the 835 people who have been killed by guns since the start of 2008. Activists demanded that government strengthen gun laws and take action to control illicit arms transfers. A petition in support of a strong ATT was circulated; it will be sent to the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Children drew and wrote peace messages and adults were given badges and flyers with statistics and information about armed violence. The event was organised by Amnesty International Paraguay and CEJ (Judicial Study Centre) in collaboration with CAES, the Violence Prevention Committee and CLAVE (Latin American Coalition for Violence Prevention). There was extensive media coverage including eight TV channels: ABC TV, Canal 9, Telefuturo, Canal 13, Red Guarani, Paravision, Unicanal and Ultima Hora TV. The newspapers La Nacion, ABC Color, Ultima Hora and the radio stations Ñandutí and 970AM also publicised the event.
Peru
* ATT pledges at human security forum
The Peruvian Disarmament Network (REPEDC) organised a forum about human security on June 17 at the Congress in Lima. Congressman Luis Humberto Falla confirmed that the Peruvian government will participate in the forthcoming OEWG meeting in New York. Advisory Minister Vitaliano Gallardo spoke about implementation of the UN Programme of Action. Congressmen Yonhy Lescano said the government would work closely with civil society and pledged to support the work of the Peruvian Disarmament Network. Silvia Loli Espinoza, Director of Amnesty International Peru urged the ministries of Education, Social Development and Women’s Affairs to participate more actively in peace and disarmament initiatives. John Charles Torres, National Coordinator of REPEDC, spoke about the need to have stronger gun control and urged the government to support a strong ATT at the July meeting. The event was broadcast on the Congress TV Channel.
*ATT advocacy and successful workshops
450 community leaders and educators attended a workshop organised by Amnesty International Peru on 19 June at El Callao, the city with the highest gun violence rates in the country. Mayerlis Angarita, who coordinates a gun violence victims' group in Colombia, was the main speaker. She talked about the consequences of gun proliferation and met with local leaders. Mayerlis and AI members also spoke to university students in Lima and were interviewed by Radio San Borja and the dailies La Primera, Perú21 and El Peruano. On 18 June, AI held a meeting with the First Vice-president of the Peruvian Congress who pledged to support the Arms Trade Treaty and to examine Peru's firearms laws in light of the principles advocated by the Control Arms campaign. The following day AI visited Juan Pablo Guerrero and Vitaliano Gallardo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss Peru’s participation in the next OEWG meeting. Both officials stated that Peru will attend the meeting and will support a strong ATT.
Turks and Caicos
* DDA campaign launched with march and rally
A public rally and march through the streets of Providenciales were held to launch the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign on 15 June. The events were organised by the Gender Affairs Unit of the Turks and Caicos Islands partnered with Women in Development (WINAD). The theme was ‘Stop the Violence… Not another one’. The rally was addressed by the Minister of Home Affairs and Human Services, Karen Delancy. Other speakers included the leader of the parliamentary opposition and representatives from the education, health and social development ministries. Civil society groups and faith-based organizations were also well-represented. The campaign continues throughout June, with a programme including discussions on crime and violence and self-defence classes for women.
Uruguay
*Bumper sticker campaign
The civil disarmament Group ALUDEC persuaded 500 drivers to display "Control Arms" bumper stickers during a leafleting campaign on the central avenues of Montevideo. They also sent information about the Week of Action to policymakers and posted videos and information about the Week of Action in Facebook and other websites. ALUDEC designed a dramatic poster for this year's Week of Action which is being used by NGOS all around the world.
US
* Seattle Times article on armed domestic violence
The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence has been urging newspapers to cover the launch of the Disarming Domestic Violence campaign. The Seattle Times has agreed to run an opinion piece by the group’s executive director, Nan Stoops.
* Crime guns transformed into "Tree of Peace"
Guns from the Los Angeles and New York Police Departments have been melted down to create a “Peace Tree” by the organisation Arms to Art, Lin Evola-Smidt, founder. The "Olive Tree of Peace" was given to Prince Albert of Monaco and now resides in the Palace, recognising the prince's efforts support peace.
*Statewide roll-out of Disarm Domestic Violence
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV) held a mass email mailout and phone round to its 66 member programmes on 16 June to explain the Disarming Domestic Violence campaign. They used research and policy recommendations from the Washington State Domestic Violence Fatality Review. These stressed the importance of asking domestic violence survivors about the presence of firearms in their homes, and discussing the risks; and asking local law enforcement agencies whether they have a protocol for removing weapons from convicted domestic violence offenders. If not, WSCADV is asking members to consult one of the law enforcement agencies in Washington State that has implemented such a policy.
* Medics launch innovative campaign
The Massachusetts-based medical organisation International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) has launched an innovative project to highlight the human suffering caused by gun violence. The “Medical Voices Against Violence” campaign uses real-life stories from its members to educate others about the tragic consequences of gun violence. Among the participants is Ursula, a medical student from Germany, whose contribution is a sombre reflection on the mass shooting near Stuttgart in March. “The local newspaper proudly announces that following the shooting, almost 400 firearms of all kinds and 250 kg of ammunition have been voluntarily handed in so far. I wonder how many more bullets are still stored by my neighbours, leading to a horribly dangerous illusion of security.” See the site here
*Student spreads the word in Florida
Gladys Momanyi, a student at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, has initiated an outreach programme in prominent locations including at the main library and university centre, to explain the global gun crisis to students, staff and visitors.
* Florida conference welcomes DDV campaign
Over 50 delegates attended a lively Disarm Domestic Violence conference organised by the Nova Southeastern University Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on 18 June. The event, held in the Alvin Sherman Library-Art Gallery, attracted representatives from the American Association of University Women, NSU Chapter; Public Education Officers; legal officers; law enforcement officers; students (both university and high school), professors; and members of the local community.
Speakers included: Dr Laurel E. Thompson, Director of the School Social Work and Attendance Department of the School Board of Broward County, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Lt. Paul Brugman, Police officer, Division Commander in Special Operations, Town of Davie, Florida; Catherine L. Roselli, Law Officer; Sergeant Adam Hofstein, Abuse & Neglect Unit Supervisor, Special Victims & Family Crimes Section, Regional Investigations Division, Broward Sheriff's Office, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Julia Lewis Julia, doctoral candidate in international business at Nova Southeastern University; Aisha McDonald, AmeriCorps member at Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Dr. Marcia Sweedler- Chair, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Nova Southeastern University; Dr. Judith McKay- Professor, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution; Dr. Elena Bastidas- Professor, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution; Dr Michelle Rice, Associate Chair, Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution; and Dr Warren Professor, Department of Psychology.
Outreach activities included the collection of signatures for a petition urging Florida State to strengthen its gun laws to prevent domestic violence abusers from accessing guns.
* Peace Fellows supporting DDV campaign around the world
The Advocacy Project, a partner of IANSA, is supporting the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign by sending Peace Fellows to eight IANSA member organisations – in Argentina, Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, Nepal, Namibia, Portugal, Serbia, and Uganda. The Fellows are collecting information and documenting the stories of survivors of gun violence in the home.
Venezuela
* Venezuela: Candle light event in 8 cities
On 20 June, 8 Venezuelan cities Caracas, Anzoátegui, Aragua, Carabobo, Lara, Nueva Esparta, Táchira and Zulia held simultaneous events to mark the Week of Action. Participants wrote messages on a giant poster asking for tighter gun control and formed the word “13 thousand” with candles to highlight the number of gun violence victims in Venezuela during 2006. Signatures were also collected on a petition to the government to support the Arms Trade Treaty, create stronger national firearms laws and release official numbers of gun violence victims. This activity was organised in coordination with CLAVE members in other 10 Latin American cities. The event was featured by the television channel RCTV, the dailies El Nacional, Talcual, Noticias 24 and the radio stations Magica, Fe y Alegria, 750 RCR and 92.1 Valencia.
|
