| Global Week of Action Against Small Arms 2006 - action in South and Central Asia
Bangladesh:
Rally in Dhaka
The 100 days campaign was launched with a colourful rally in support of tough arms controls.
 Press conference
Bangladesh turned into arms smuggling route
Daily Star, 30 May
Bangladesh used as part of arms smuggling route: experts from Bangladesh
Narinjara News (Dhaka), 3 June
India:
Media advocacy
The Times of India (Nagpur edition) quoted Dr Geeta Kurhade of the Medicovet Rural Welfare Society on 24 May.
Million Faces Petition
19,500 photos from the national Million Faces petition were publicly delivered to Dr Thockchom Meinya, a parliamentarian, on 23 May.
Dr Meinya received the petition in the form of a cloth banner from Control Arms campaigners including Oxfam, Control Arms Foundation of India, Amnesty India and South Asia Small Arms Network-India. He had his photograph taken for the Million Faces petition and made a commitment to the Indian Control Arms team that he will lobby for an Arms Trade Treaty amongst other parliamentarians.
Seminar and press conference
Urgent UN action is needed to stop gun violence, urged the Citizens Collective at a press conference and seminar in Guwahati on 28 May. Click here to read the press release.
Puppet show
The Medicovet Welfare Society's puppet show on the dangers of small arms proliferation was every popular in Maharaj Bagh Nagpur entertainment park on 22 May.
Campaigners launch the 100 days in the media
Indian campaigners held a press conference on 16 March where speakers from Amnesty and Oxfam were joined by Admiral L Ramdas – former Indian Chief of naval staff and Professor Anuradh Chenoy – an internationally renowned author on politics and international affairs.
Mumbai: Campaigners sign up the police
In Mumbai the countdown began with Control Arms campaigners visiting the Commissioner of Police. The team met officers in charge of gun licensing and signed them up to the Million Faces petition
Campaigning events in Nagpur
The Medicovat Rural Welfare Society have organised and participated in a number of campaigning events between 19 March and 4 April including:
- a Peace March,
- a theatre show,
- a debate competition questioning the role of the small arms in Indian society
- and inter college sports competitions.
The results of a survey on perceptions of peace and violence conducted during February were also presented, reflecting student’s opinions on gun violence, terrorism, the circulation of illicit fire arms and the effectiveness of their legal system. Parliamentarians were invited and informed of the events.
Mongolia:
Launch activities:
A student group organised a stall outside of the Mongolian National University on 16 March to highlight the impact of armed violence against women.
Military support for Control Arms
During awareness raising activities at the Institute of Armed Forces, 133 photos were collected - including the Vice-President of the Institute, Major General Yadamdorj Purevdorj.
 'Make some noise' concert
Amnesty International - Mongolia section held a 'Make some noise' concert on 27 May highlighting human rights issues through music. The section's student group leader Todrol spoke about the importance of controlling arms worldwide, referring to the UN Small Arms Review Conference. Over 80 photos were collected.
Parliamentary action
On 6 June Control Arms campaigners met R. Gonchigdorj, parliamentarian and chairman of the Standing Committee on security and foreign policy.
Nepal
Report launched
The Amnesty International 2006 Report was launched by Amnesty International Nepal, alongside partners in the Stop Violence Against Women and the Control Arms campaigns, at a press conference on 23 May.
Press conference
Amnesty Nepal's press conference on 28 May was well-attended and received national media coverage. Click here for more information.
Pakistan
Press conference
The government must take strong action to stop gun violence, according to a press conference held in Peshawar, 22 May. Click here for more information.
Rally
Human Development Promotion Group (HDPG) also held a rally on 24 May at a university in Peshawar.
Sri Lanka:
Campaigners call for tough arms controls
The 100 Day Countdown was launched with a press conference in Colombo on 16 March. Campaigners called on the Sri Lankan government to push forward tougher controls on arms as the chair of the UN Review Conference in June.
National delivery of Million Faces petition
Some 11,000 faces from the Million faces petition were presented to government officials in Colombo on 29 May. The event was organised by SASA-Net. Click here for the report (warning: 3MB PDF).
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