Argentina

El comercio de armas fuera de control
Argentina Indymedia
Limitar el comercio de armas
La Nacion (Argentina)
Con un muerto cada minuto en el mundo, basta con armas de fuego
Egalicia Noticias

Australia

A press release followed by a meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs where the campaign report will be presented and arguments put forward for the ATT.

Human rights groups want stricter controls on weapons exports
ABC Online
Arms sales fuelled by logic of my enemy's enemy is my friend
Sydney Morning Herald

Belarus

There will be an International Workshop on Small Arms on 16-17 October organized in co-operation with Voluntas, Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Support Centre for Associations and Foundations (SCAF) in Minsk that will be attended by the major inter-government (OSCE, NATO, UN, etc.) and major international civil society and research networks involved in small arms control issues (Saferworld, Geneva Small Arms Survey, NISAT, PRIO, SIPRI, etc.).

Belgium

Pax Christi and Flemish Peace Organisation have prepared a Flemish launch pack (Translated report, Q&A and documents on the Arms Trade Treaty) for media distribution.

Amnesty: EU Code of Conduct on arms exports not working
EurActive (Belgium)

Brazil

The campaign launch, organised by Amnesty and IANSA participant Sou da Paz received significant media coverage, including an interview with CBN, the most important news station and campaign coverage in the national press eg Globo, Estadao, Folha de S. Paulo and the Jornal do Brasil. Full report in English and Portugese here.

ONGS pedem união contra venda de armas
Jornal do Brasil (Portugese)
Começa campanha mundial para dar adeus às armas
GuiaExpresso

Cambodia

The Working Group for Weapons Reduction and Oxfam organised a press conference alongside a gun destruction event to which it was hoped the President would attend. There will be a peace rally on 11 October with performers, storytellers and musicians. 200 volunteers will gather 20,000 faces for the Million Faces Petition. A national workshop, attended by members of the government, covering Cambodian law and the ATT has been planned for a later date. Full report and photos here

Canada

A press release and backgrounder issued in English and French by Amnesty, Oxfam and Project Ploughshares (IANSA) resulted in press coverage of the launch eg the Globe and Mail. The report was also disseminated to relevant government departments and officials and to the Small Arms Working Group, a network of over 80 Canadian organisations and individuals working on small arms issues, which Project Ploughshares coordinates for the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee. There is a possibility of holding an event involving all these parties (including government) on 10 December.

Amnesty, Oxfam target arms trade
Globe and Mail (Canada)
Say no to Murder, Inc.
Globe and Mail (op-ed by Helen Mirren)
Groups call for halt to arms trade
CBC News

Costa Rica

The Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress (IANSA) held a press conference on 10 October, during the inauguration of its Museum for Peace in San Jose. Noble Laureate Oscar Arias, founder of the movement to create the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), publicly stated the support of the Costa Rican government for the Treaty. Dr. Arias and the Foundation called upon other world governments to join in a global effort to place desperately needed controls on the arms trade

At the press conference, Dr. Arias and members of the Foundation initiated the collection of photos for the Million Faces project by publicly having their pictures taken for the billboard. A continuous video presentation informed the audience on the ATT, the Control Arms Campaign, and the impact of armed violence in the region. 21 different press points were there, including Nacion, Channel 6 and 7, and Tico Times. Report and photos here

Czech Republic

Humanitarian Groups Seek Arms Control Treaty For Light Weapons
Radio Free Europe (Czech Republic)

Fiji

The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre held a briefing on October 8th for media on the Global Campaign on Arms Control. A press release to launch the campaign was sent out on October 9th 2003, with a full page feature article in the weekend paper, specifically on Sunday October 12 on the impact of arms on human security in Fiji and the region.

France

A press conference was organised along with a die-in, the mayor of Begles asked 20,000 citizens to stop their activities for a short period of time.

Germany

A press conference was held in Berlin, action cards, campaign leaflets and the report were translated into German and distributed.

Charities Fight 'Real Weapons of Mass Destruction'
Deutsche Welle

Ireland

The press conference was attended by politicians from all parties including Dublin's Lord Mayor, Royston Brady, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party , Liz McManus, along with representatives from the Fine Gael and Sinn Fein parties. Church leaders mingled with stars from Fair City, Ireland's most popular "soap" and Ivana Bacik , Reid Professor of Law at Trinity College and MEP candidate in next year's elections was also there to lend her support. RTE TV and photographers from the main national daily papers who came to cover the event had plenty of good visual material to choose from. Full report and photos here

The Northern Ireland launch was held in Queen's University ,Belfast and it too was really well supported. Brian Houston , singer, helped create a marvellous atmosphere as the students lined up for the photo shoot.

Italy

The Italian coalition on arms control will publicise the campaign. A web site with the information on the campaign was launched on 9th October, linked to www.controlarms.org

Kenya and South Sudan

The Nairobi launch was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, youth, women and community representatives, particularly from Kenya's North-Eastern Province and South Sudan. The Assistant Minister of State in charge of Provincial Administration and National Security, the Hon. Stephen Tarus, was the guest of honour, deputising for the Minister who could not make it because of engagements in Parliament. The Launch was preceded by short plays - about how small arms are used in communities for livestock raiding, and dramas - on the effects of small arms (participatory) on communities. Speakers included: Mr Peter Kispia (Oxfam); the District Peace Committee Representative, Mr Hussein Ahmed, and Mr Ochieng Adala, Africa Peace Forum (IANSA). Statement by Mr Adala here.

8,000 Illicit Firearms Are Destroyed in Crackdown
The Nation (Kenya)
Poverty, Insecurity Fuel Small Arms Trade
Inter Press Service (Kenya)

Macedonia

The Journalists For Children And Women Right And Protection Of Environment (IANSA) organised a press conference for the campaign launch, which was covered by the main national TV news (a 7 minute report), radio VAT (Macedonian and Albaninan) and a national newspaper. IANSA participants promoted the campaign on the forum ‘Is It Possible To Live In A Macedonia Without Arms?’

Malawi

A press briefing was attended by members of the media, government, NGOs and the general public. There was an interview with TV Malawi and radio stations including the national station, Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation, and Capital Radio FM. T-Shirts and posters were distributed to the general public.

Mali

The campaign was launched in both Bamako and Gao. On the eve of the launch there was a live TV program on the campaign. The campaign itself was launched in Bamako by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Palace of Culture. Thousands of schoolchildren attended (pictured) and provided poems on peace. The launch also included video, speeches, a demonstration of the internet site, drama by a theatre for development group, an arms destruction event and finished with a closing cocktail with large numbers of guests including the President.

Nepal

At the press conference, Shobha Gautam (IANSA) spoke about the campaign, while Amnesty and Oxfam representatives answered questions. Nepal television, two private TV stations, national and local radio, and two newspapers gave good coverage of the event. Full report and photos here

Netherlands

The launch was in The Hague, where Mrs Agnes van Ardenne the Minister of Development Coöperation was handed the campaign report by Oxfam, Amnesty and Pax Christi (IANSA). She agreed to put it on the agenda of the European Union of which the Netherlands will hold the chair during the second half of 2004.

The former anchorman of Dutch National TV News was host of the press meeting. An 8 page summary of the report had been translated into Dutch for media distribution. Radio interviews included one on Dutch National News Radio. The launch report will be presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and an attempt made to get photos of government officials for the Million Faces Petition. Full report and photos here

New Zealand

There will be some media work around the launch, with an op-ed placed in a major NZ newspaper. The report will be presented to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign affairs and the Development Minister, with the possibility of a meeting.

Peru

The local launch included NGO representatives from all over the continent. IANSA Director Rebecca Peters was in Lima for the press conference, which received a full page story in El Comercio, the main national newspaper in Peru, headed with a giant picture titled ‘The enemy of the gun’. This was followed by an editorial on 12 October. The news magazine Caretas also covered the campaign.

La enemiga del revolver
El Comercio
Más control sobre armas pequeñas... ahora
El Comercio
Campaña “Armas bajo control”
Muheres Hoy

Philippines

A concert was held at the Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. It opened and closed with rituals led and participated in by children calling for communities safe from armed violence, was punctuated by dances inspired by stories in the Shattered Lives report and portrayed situations in the Philippines, Cambodia and other countries affected by arms proliferation.

Musicians spoke on video about the human cost of wars especially on women and children and about the links between the proliferation of arms and poverty. The Philippines Action Network on Small Arms provided statistics that show the extent of the arms proliferation in the Philippines and how these suggest the lack of responsible control, and called for action at the community, national, regional and global arenas. Full report and photos here http://www.controlarms.org/events/philippines.htm

Poland

A press conference was held in Warsaw, where local youth groups will collect photos for the Million Faces Petition. Some of the material, like the summary of the launch report, was translated into Polish.

Portugal

Press conference.

Puerto Rico

Press release.

Senegal

Prime Minister Idrissa Seck took part in the launch. There was a public event in the Théatre Daniel Sorano in Dakar, where a wide variety of campaign materials was issued. A children's march was organised by a group of NGOs working with the National Commission. This ended with the handover of the launch report and campaigning message to the President of Senegal. The launch coincides with the release of a report on Senegal issued by IANSA participant MALAO and funded by Oxfam.

Slovakia

A press conference.

Slovenia

A press release was issued on October 9th and an article was posted in the Amnesty newsletter while www.amnesty-international.si will focus on the campaign. Some of the campaign material has been translated into Slovenian and the campaign report has been sent to all relevant government authorities.

South Africa

On the eve of the launch the police destroyed 11 000 firearms. A press release issued by Amnesty, Oxfam and IANSA participants (including Gun Free South Africa ) resulted in interviews with SABC TV News, SABC Africa, SABC Radio Tswana, Ukhozi fm Zulu, Cape Times, East Coast Radio, 702 Radio, kaya fm and Natal Witness.

Amnesty, Oxfam in arms quest
News 24 (South Africa)

South Korea

The action card and stickers were sent to 2,000 members together with instructions on how to support the campaign.

Spain

The campaign was launched in both Madrid and Barcelona. The launches were held in a cinema with visual support - images from the report and media video. Julio Catalan, a war correspondence, spoke at the press conference. Both events included graveyards, representing the half a million people who die each year from armed violence.

Amnistía Internacional e Intermón Oxfam lanzan la campaña 'Armas bajo Control' en 60 países
El Mundo

Sri Lanka

The campaign report, translated into Sinhala and Tamil, was released to the media. Leading news stations such as MTV, ETV and TNL telecast the press conference and the panel discussion for news in all three languages – English, Sinhala and Tamil. Radio interviews broadcast on BBC London and TNL Lite 89.1 in Tamil and English featured members of the South Asia Partnership (IANSA). The Daily News (English) and the Virakesari (Tamil) had front-page articles on the event. The Sunday Times and the Daily Mirror were among other leading papers to have carried an article on the campaign. Lanka Business Online, an online business news agency has put on its website a news feature on the event. Report and photos from the panel

Lanka too in global control arms campaign
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
Small Arms control as a peace factor
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
Global campaign for small arms control
Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)


Sudan

A high level participatory conference for the first time brought together different leaders from across Sudan to hear about the impact of arms on the very people they are leading. The workshop started by a short briefing about the international arms campaign, the 2 min video clip and distribution of the campaign report, T shirts and the photo petition cards in the arms control folder. Full report and photos here

Sweden

The campaign launch included a debate article to be published in a major Swedish newspaper, signed by the Swedish Red Cross, Amnesty, SweFOR and others.

Tchad

A press conference was organised with celebrities and NGO representatives. Also a music concert in the main square in the capital N'Djaména.

Tanzania

There was a press conference in Mwanza along with theatrical shows at the open grounds and a display of banners through the streets of Mwanza.

Togo

A press conference and debate attended by Ministry of Defence representatives, UN personnel and 15 NGO representatives was held with journalists from TV, radio and the press. There were collective and individual photo petitions. A report from Rodger Glokpor (IANSA) here

Trinidad and Tobago

IANSA participant the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) distributed information materials to all the government ministers, the Commissioner of Police and the CARICOM Task Force on Crime and Security. The launch featured in an interview on a national radio station that targets decision makers, middle and lower income earners.

Uganda

A press conference was organised chaired by the Minister of Interior for October 10th as October 9th is a national holiday. Also TV and radio programme interviews.

Neighbours Bring Arms to Uganda, Says Rugunda
New Vision

UK

Oxfam, Amnesty and IANSA launched the campaign in London with a photo stunt. Local groups have been involved in the preparation of the Million Faces Petition and during the summer thousands of photos have been collected at music festivals in the UK.

The Northern Ireland launch was held in Queen's University, Belfast and it too was really well supported. Brian Houston , singer, helped create a marvellous atmosphere as the students lined up for the photo shoot.

Charities campaign against arms trade
BBC
Weapons Campaign
Belfast Telegraph
Campaign to clamp down on arms trade
Edinburgh Evening News
Out of Arms Way
Mirror (UK) (op-ed by Jamie Theakston)
War on terror fuels small arms trade
Guardian
Pause for thought in a deadly world
Times
Dunblane Father Condemns Duncan Smith Shooting Remarks
The Scotsman
Slaughter In Uganda
The Mirror (UK)

USA

The launch was held in Washington, DC at the Washington Club.

Charities launch campaign against arms trade
San Francisco Chronicle (also Newsday, Akron Beacon Journal, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Biloxi Sun Herald, Charlton Port Courier, Macon Telegraph, Tuscaloosana News and Wichita Eagle)
Charities campaign against arms trade
Common Dreams
Human Rights Groups Propose Treaty on Small Arms Trade
Voice of America
The Fight Against the Arms Trade
Salt Lake Tribune (USA)

Zambia

The campaign launch was held in the conference hall at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka. About 100 people from different organisations attended, and also journalists from CNN, BBC, CFI, Voice of America, SABC, ZNBC, Radio Phoenix and Radio Icengelo.

Also the following countries:

Angola
Austria
Bahrain
Brazil
Chile
Croatia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Lebanon
Mexico
Morocco
Norway
Paraguay
Sierra Leone
Switzerland
Uruguay
Venezuela
Yemen