Tamba, a child soldier in Sierra Leone,
carries his AK-47 (2001) © World Vision

From 4 to 8 December 2005, the BBC broadcast a series of radio programs on the sale, use and impact of the AK-47, the world's most devastating small arm.

IANSA members have been interviewed for the series, which aired from 2300 UK time on the ‘World Today’ programme on the BBC World Service, every night during this period.

The AK-47 military assault rifle (or 'Kalashnikov') is the most widely used assault rifle in the world, with up to 100 million estimated to exist. They contribute to the tens of thousands of war-related gun deaths every year.

Many of these weapons were stolen from state and police armouries, according to  Paul Eavis, director of Saferworld, (an IANSA member) interviewed for the series.

At the UN small arms conference starting 9 January 2006, the world's governments will take action to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms.

IANSA members are calling for the UN conference to propose a range of measures for preventing gun violence worldwide, including a set of principles for arms transfers, as a step towards negotiating a global Arms Trade Treaty that would prevent weapons such as the AK-47 from falling into the hands of human rights abusers.

Stories featured in the series include:

  A former guerrilla from Colombia
"In the middle of a confrontation you don't think that the enemy is a human being; that he has a family or that he will be missed." Click here to read a transcript.


  A former child soldier from Sierra Leone
"They trained us how to load and fire guns including the AK-47. Whether attacking the government forces or civilian towns, we would take the guns." Click here to read the transcript.


  A former rapper from Jamaica
"These are things that tear communities apart." Click here to read the transcript.

A surgeon from Zambia
"One bullet can wreck societies." Click here to read the transcript.