Bangladesh
SAP-International, SAAPE Bangladesh, Saferworld, NFASA and the Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BDPC) are collaborating on People’s Consultations in Bangladesh. One of the major consultation activities was the submission of a memorandum to the Foreign Ministry calling for the formation of a South Asia Peace Commission to deal with issues like demilitarization, small arms, the Arms Trade Treaty process, conflict resolution and prevention, nuclear non-proliferation and human rights. New reports on People's Consultations held in Rajshahi and Khulna, Jessore and Satkhira are available.
Fiji
The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) organised a consultation in Suva in April. Ambassadors from other Pacific Islands were invited, as well as non-government organisations, civil society organisations, representatives of the UN Development Program and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fiji). PCRC delivered the consultation outcome document to Fiji’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and sent copies to the Fiji UN mission in New York, the Pacific ambassadors and the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.
Pacific Concerns Resource Centre
India
Major People’s Consultation events were held in Mumbai during February (organised by SASA-Net) and in New Delhi in March (organised by the Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI)). Several other events were held throughout the country in March and April, bringing together civil society organisations, academics, policy makers, women activists and government officials. Consultations focused on the arms trade in India, the Indian Government’s position on the ATT and grassroots work to build support for an ATT. The events ended with all participants making a unified call for an ATT and the publication of a People's Resolution on Ending Armed Violence.
INDIA Oxfam GB and CAFI PC Report
INDIA SASA-Net Chennai PC report
Nepal
People’s Consultations in Nepal were coordinated by the South Asia Small Arms Network-Nepal (SASA-Net Nepal, comprising IHRICON, Amnesty International (Nepal), Oxfam Nepal, SAP-International, INSEC-Human Rights Organization, Grinso-Nepal, RRN, SAP-Nepal and other small arms experts). Activities included collection of signatures, public talks on the ATT campaign, translation of materials into Nepali, an action card campaign, an art competition and the launch of a paper titled ‘SAARC and Peace and Security in South Asia’ at the People’s SAARC Conference in Katmandu. These activities will culminate in a national consultation in Katmandu.
SASA-Net report on People's Consultation art competition
Pakistan
The Community Appraisal & Motivation Programme (CAMP) and the Sustainable Peace And Development Organization (SPADO) conducted an opinion survey and raised awareness about the ATT. The two groups also coordinated a national People’s Consultation in May. The outcome document – including recommendations – will be presented to the Pakistani Foreign Office and media along with the request that the recommendations be incorporated into the Government’s report to the UN Secretary-General.
Sustainable Peace And Development Organization (SPADO)
Philippines
PhilANSA conducted a People’s Consultation in the North of the Philippines during April. Participants were drawn from a variety of community sectors including indigenous peoples, religious, military, police, youth, academia, local government and farmers. The National Consultation was held on April in Manila and was attended by representatives from government and civil society.
PhilANSA Visayas PC report
Russia
In early April the Centre for Policy Studies (PIR) and Saferworld conducted a series of consultations in Russia. A roundtable discussion on the ATT was coordinated with participation from high level representatives of research and policy organisations, government, industry and the media. This was followed by a news conference, a media training session for journalism students and finally, a meeting with foreign affairs officials to confirm that Russia will make a submission on the ATT to the UN Secretary-General.
Centre for Policy Studies (PIR)
Thailand
The concept of the People’s Consultation was originally developed in Thailand by an IANSA member there, Fred Lubang. His organisation, Non-Violence International, is cooperating with Amnesty Thailand to run consultations there, including surveys, school visits, online discussions, articles in local newspapers and some local radio programmes.
Non-violence International
Sri Lanka
SASA-Net Sri Lanka and the Marga Institute organised the People’s Consultations in Sri Lanka. SASA-Net Sri Lanka also established a working group involving members of the Civil Society Action Committee, the National Commission and other civil society leaders, government officials and private sector representatives to give their voice to the consultation.
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