Argentina
Amnesty International (AI) Argentina and other organisations have been organising events in Argentina as part of the People’s Consultations. Red Argentina para el Desarme (RAD) has been working with the government to increase popular support for the Government’s pro-treaty position (the Government of Argentina was one of the co-authors of the UN resolution on the Arms Trade Treaty). Activities have included a meeting of the Mercosur Arms Group, a seminar on the ATT, a cyber-consultation and a national survey on arms and the idea of an Arms Trade Treaty.
Amnesty International (AI) Argentina
Red Argentina para el Desarme (RAD)
Brazil
Throughout March and April Sou da Paz carried out a series of consultations targeted at specific groups in Sao Paulo including women, young people and police officers. Sou da Paz also collaborated with NGOs from the Disarm Brazil network to carry out at least one consultation in every region in the country. Consultations centred on open discussion and encouraged participants to share their own experiences of guns and think about what gun controls are in place at the moment. Participants watched a scene from the film Lord of War and received a presentation on the global arms trade and work towards an ATT. The outcome document from Brazil’s 12 consultations was submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April.
Read the Government of Brazil’s submission to the UN SG
Brazil PC invitation
Sou da Paz
USA
Amnesty International USA has organised several consultations in the USA, including a student petition to Secretary Rice, a detailed NGO memo to Secretary Rice, and several lobbying meetings with US government officials.
Amnesty International USA
Canada
Amnesty International’s French Canadian section and Oxfam-Quebec are running People’s Consultations in Canada focusing on their e-networks, student networks and community networks. The consultations started with students in March. AIFC met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss civil society concerns about the ATT process. AI and Oxfam also organised an education program based on a cereal box with a fake gun inside and educational materials; they distributed the cereal boxes to 1,500 schools in April.
Read the Government of Canada’s submission to the UN SG
Amnesty International Canada - francophone section
Oxfam Quebec
Chile
Amnesty International has coordinated several People’s Consultation events in Chile, including a seminar and an information stall where activists engaged with the public and handed out leaflets on the street. AI Chile’s website also features a web action that asks people for their views on an Arms Trade Treaty and calls on the Chilean Government to take a leading role in the global promotion of the treaty.
Colombia
REDEPAZ (the Columbian peace network) has been organising People’s Consultations in Columbia in cooperation with several other non-government organisations. REDEPAZ coordinated a visit to senators and congressional representatives to explain the ATT and held a separate public event in April. A letter-writing campaign aimed at civil society organisations, senators and members of congress culminated in the handover of a formal letter to the National Government in April, asking the Government to demonstrate strong support for an Arms Trade Treaty.
Read the Government of Colombia’s submission to the UN SG (in English)
Read the Government of Colombia’s submission to the UN SG (in Spanish)
REDEPAZ
Haiti, Guatemala & Mexico
Organisations working to reduce violence and control arms in all three countries gathered in Haiti in March for a three day meeting. Through information sharing and analysis of the violence and small arms issues in each country, organisations were able to gain a regional perspective on the problem and consider collaborative approaches to Control Arms campaign activities in the region. A Control Arms video on situation of armed violence in three countries has been produced as well as a research report.
Read the Government of Mexico’s submission to the UN SG (in Spanish)
Paraguay
People’s Consultation activities in Paraguay were launched with a public concert organised by Amnesty International Paraguay in Asunción; six popular national music bands participated. At the concert a questionnaire and information sheet on the Arms Trade Treaty were handed out. 7410 people attended the concert and as many questionnaires were completed – 7000 of those were supportive of an ATT.
Paraguay Armsas Bajo Control concierto
Peru
Instituto Peruano de Investigacion de Familia y Problacion (IPIFAP), Amnesty International in Peru and several other organisations have conducted People’s Consultations in Peru. Activities to date have included events aimed at civil society organisations and Peruvian people in Chiclayo, Huancayo and Lima. Amnesty International in Peru also held an open-air screening of the film ‘Lord of War’ in April; this was attended by 155 people who all signed a petition concerning the need for an ATT; this will be presented to government officials. Other events have included roundtable discussions and a web action (www.amnistia.org.pe).
Read the Government of Peru’s submission to the UN SG (in Spanish)
Trinidad & Tobago
The People’s Consultation was launched in April by the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) at the Port of Spain. The event brought together representatives from civil society including community-based organisations and national organisations of women, youth, persons living with HIV/AIDS, the private security sector, labour, business and the University of the West Indies (Centre for Gender and Development Studies).
Trinidad Tobago_WINAD PC report
Venezuela
People’s Consultation activities organised by Amnesty International Venezuela are focused on gaining young people’s support for the Control Arms campaign. Events to raise awareness of arms trade issues have been held in schools and universities, and a number of concerts have been held. Video and photo testimonies gathered from these events will be posted on various websites and an online gallery is being developed. AI Venezuela organised a concert in Caracas with the British band Motorhead for 10,000 people in April and people attending signed banners to promote the People's Consultation.
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