Email Louise Rimmer (IANSA Communications Officer) for the contact details for the organisers of these events.
Cambodia
The Working Group for Weapons Reduction (WGWR) organised a workshop on National and Global Action against Gun Violence on Friday. The aim was to raise awareness about gun proliferation and misuse and to highlight the need for a global ATT. The workshop took place at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture with around 100 students, NGO representatives, journalists and government officials participating.
Fiji
On Friday the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, Fiji's National Council of Women and the Pacific Foundation for the Advancement of Women held a joint media conference for the Week of Action. The conference placed the global week in a local context, highlighting abuses of power by the military following its seizure of power from the previous government in December 2006. Other issues discussed at the conference were the role of the media in conflict prevention, separation of police and military roles, and cultural links between masculinity and guns. The brief to media can be found here.
The Fiji Times has reported on last week's media conference held by the Pacific Concerns Resources Centre and Fijian women's groups: The article quotes organisers saying the Week of Action is not just about the physical misuse of guns, but also about how guns are used as political tools.
India
The Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) is working with CNN on a series of television programs about the availability and misuse of guns around New Delhi (India). The reports are posted online:
Need an arms license? Go to Nagaland
Rs 55K for license to kill in Delhi
Other WoA activities have included the launch of an online petition calling on the Government of India to do more to prevent gun violence and to support work on an Arms Trade Treaty. You can sign the petition. In Nagpur, south of Delhi, a public event was coordinated by Medicovet Rural Welfare Society (MRWS), including a stunt and provision of information on the arms trade. MRWS also wrote to a parliamentarian asking him to formally request that the Government make public its submission to the UN on the ATT.Dr Anuradha Chenoy, Professor at Jawaharalal Nehru University and Honorary Vice-President of the Control Arms Foundation of India, has had an opinion article published in the Imphal Free Press on Thursday. "India and the Arms Trade Treaty" argues that the Indian Government should support the Arms Trade Treaty development process.
Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) youth members observed a Day of Action Against Gun Violence in Delhi on Friday. Members visited police stations to discuss the significance of the WoA with police officers and distribute locally-produced flyers and campaigning materials. An editorial piece on 'Arms and the State' was published in the Imphal Free Press today. The article argues that governments must put more effort into preventing the illegal arms trade.
The Control Arms Foundation of India website has been launched. This is the culmination of a huge amount of work by CAFI. The organisation's founder, Bina Nepram, deserves particular congratulations for her role in developing the site. Media coverage of the WoA in India has continued with a piece by Dr Bibhu Prasad Routray, Research Fellow at the Institute of Conflict Management (ICM), and two stories about Manipur Women Gun Survivors. They are all online:
'Guns should be used judiciously, say gun victims' survivors', by Akoijam Sunita
and 'Gun violence: Tales of shattered families, hope, aspiration' by Ng Liklaileima:
Nepal
On Wednesday Amnesty International (AI) Nepal ran an action card program as part of its People's Consultation on an Arms Trade Treaty. Around 500 people signed the action cards, including the Attorney General of Nepal Mr Yagya Murti Banjade, the Central President of Nepal Bar Association Mr Biswakanta Mainali, the Founder of AI Nepal Nutan
Thapaliya, the former President of Nepal Bar Association Shambhu Thapa and the Director and Chairperson of AI Nepal. The completed action cards call on the Nepalese Government to support an ATT, and they will be sent to Nepal's Foreign Minister. As part of the program AI also handed out information leaflets on the global campaign for an ATT.
The Centre for Research and Global Communication organised a conference on the Mission Against Gun Violence - The Role of Youths, on Friday in Kaski. Around 150 youth leaders, students and teachers participated, concluding that political parties, law makers and civil society needed to cooperate more on violence reduction strategies. They agreed that lasting peace in Nepal would make a significant contribution to stability in the region.
Pakistan
A conference called 'Fighting Weapons of Civil Destruction' was held at Peshawar on Saturday. Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP) organised the conference as part of the WoA. CAMP Representative Muhammad Amin said the large number of firearms in Pakistan was undermining development and increasing poverty there. Also in Pakistan, Blue Veins (an IANSA Women's Network member) had an article
published in Frontier News. Blue Veins also called for the establishment of a National Commission to address gun violence and to support implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms.
On Wednesday, Blue Veins organised a media conference in Mardan that was comprehensively covered by Pakistan media including AVT Khyber TV, Aaj TV, The Muslim, Statesman, Express, Jinnah, Frontier Post, Kahabrain, Awam Un Nas, Alakhbar, Surkhab and Jang Rawalpindi. In addition to the conference, Qamar Naseem from Blue Veins was interviewed by Voice of America about the WoA. On Thursday Jahangir Piara, Founder of the Organisation for Peace and Development, was interviewed by Destiny's Light Radio. He advocated stronger gun licensing procedures and highlighted the need to challenge and change Pakistan's gun culture. The interview is available here.
Later in the week, WoA activities by Blue Veins in Pakistan received more coverage, in the Nawae Waqt, Kahabrian, Kahbroona, Alakhbar, Surkhab, Express, Wahdat, Pakistan and Jang daily newspapers.
The Hewad Organisation marked the Week of Action with a conference on gun violence held in Peshawar on Sunday. Women working in politics, civil society and cultural groups gathered at the convention. Presenters gave speeches, recited poetry and discussed the impact of gun violence locally and around the world. Also in Pakistan, the Organisation for Peace and Development has achieved widespread coverage of its WoA activities in broadcast and print media. The Organisation has also published and distributed a booklet in Urdu on gun violence.
Papua New Guinea
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) has activities planned throughout the Week of Action, including a significant amount of work with media. In addition to speaking out against gun violence, CSGV is urging the government to develop its submission on an ATT as soon as possible. So far Australia and New Zealand are the only governments in the Pacific region to have done this, and CSGV says PNG should demonstrate leadership in the region, particularly given the proliferation of small arms in the country.
Philippines
PhilANSA conducted a series of People's Consultations during the WoA, building on previous consultations held throughout the country. These discussions were held in Bacolod City, Antique, Baler and several towns in Negros Occidental. Media outreach over the period culminated in interviews with ABS CBN Bacolod, IBP Hour (a one-hour television talk show), Radio Veritas and Visayan Daily Headlines. Shortly after the WoA, PhilANSA representatives visted the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police to interview officials on the results of the gun ban implemented during the Philippines Elections.
Sri Lanka
The Government this week announced an amendment to the Firearm Ordinance of 1917 which will significantly tighten Sri Lanka's gun law. Penalties for the illegal possession and transport of firearms will increase, a clause relating to private security companies will be added and the use of guns in animal traps will be outlawed. The South Asia Small Arms Network (SASA-Net) issued a media release in response to the announcement, calling it a victory for activists who have campaigned for more than two years for changes to the outdated law. Read SASA-Net's media release on the law amendment. |
