IANSA Update 5 September 2008

Ukraine arms depot explosions, thousands evacuated
ATT Week of Action, 13-19 September
African governments call for strong ATT
International Peace Day: 21 September
Peace Angels project
Other news: Anastasia's Law, Peacebuilding Commission reviewed; Guns and suicide; Women and armed violence in Burundi; Catalytic Communities; Oxfam vacancy

Ukraine arms depot explosions, thousands evacuated
On the 27 August a forest fire swept into an arms depot near Lozovaya in eastern Ukraine leading to the evacuation of over 5000 people and explosions lasting for several days. To date there have been no reports of deaths of injuries. According to media reports the defence ministry has increased security on all arms depots. Read more here.

ATT Week of Action, 13-19 September
We have now learned of more than 50 events around the world planned for the Week of Action on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), 13-19 September. Once again Control Arms activists are showing their commitment and enthusiasm in their support for an ATT, and the Week of Action promises to be a great success. If you have an event planned for the ATT Week of Action please email bruce.millar@iansa.org.
Read more here.

African governments call for strong ATT
Representatives from 20 African governments expressed their continuing support for a strong Arms Trade Treaty calling for the UN GeneralAssembly to start negotiations on the ATT. Government ministers, experts and NGOs met in Nairobi (Kenya) from 3-4 September to discuss how an ATT would promote sustainable development. The meeting was hosted by the Kenyan Government and has received extensive media coverage in the region. Read more here.

International Peace Day: 21 September
21 September is International Peace Day. Each year, IANSA members organise events to celebrate the day. This year, members of the IANSA Women's Network will be closely involved in promoting the day. If you have planned events, please email bruce.millar@iansa.org with details. Read more here and here.

Peace Angels project
The IANSA Secretariat is assisting the US Art of Peace Charitable Trust on a proposed project to melt down surplus military police or civilian stockpiles of arms, and create a 'peace angel' sculpture from some of the molten materials. Destruction of surplus stockpiles is the international best practice, preferred to resale or dumping. If your country has publicly identified surplus stockpiles of small arms, please contact us and we will pass the information to the Art of Peace Trust for their project

Other news

• 'Anastasia's Law' entered into force in the Canadian province of Quebec on 1 September. This law prohibits guns in schools and on public transport, and includes provisions requiring teachers, gun-club owners and health workers to report dangerous behaviour they witness from gun owners. The law was introduced following the shootings at Dawson College on 13 September 2006.
• The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has been disappointing in key areas, according to Belgian research institute GRIP. Founded in 2005, the PBC has worked in Burundi and Sierra Leone, but Security Sector Reform, human rights, good governance and youth unemployment remain challenges to implementation. Read more here.
• A gun in the home is a major risk factor for completed suicide, according to researchers from Harvard University. They found that US states with high gun possession suffer twice as many completed suicides as those with low gun possession, due to the larger number of gun suicides. Read more here.
• Honorate Nizigiyimana of Burundian member DAGROPASS gave a presentation on women and armed violence at a regional human rights workshop organised by Urgent Action Fund Africa in Nairobi, from 31 August to 2 September. Read more here.
• Catalytic Communities is a database of community-level projects that are being worked on by 6000 member organisations worldwide. If you would like to add your project, follow the instructions on the website below. The deadline is 14 September.
• Oxfam International is seeking a Head of their New York Office. More
  information on the IANSA Job Board.
  
  

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