IANSA Update 20 March 2009
Colombia: IANSA addresses Congress to support huge gun control petition
UN calls for submissions on armed violence and development
Zambia: Launch of national network on small arms
Italy: International campaign against organised crime
Kenya: Gun destruction for 9th anniversary of Nairobi Protocol
Other news: ATT seminars at Indian universities; uranium seminar in Costa Rica; jobs
Colombia: IANSA addresses Congress to support huge gun control petition
International campaigners visited Colombia this week to support 1.4 million citizens who petitioned their Congress for tougher gun laws. IANSA Director Rebecca Peters, along with Antonio Rangel of Viva Rio (Brazil) and Gabriel Conte of Fundacion Espacios (Argentina) addressed members of the Congress, informing them about developments in small arms control around the world. They also participated in public events in the city of Medellin, where innovative local programs have substantially reduced gun violence, and in Martinilla, a town severely affected by armed conflict and armed crime. The citizens' petition calls for a minimum age of 25 for gun possession and for compulsory insurance to be required with every gun license, as occurs with licenses to drive cars. In addition, the petitioners want local municipalities to be given the power to restrict the carrying of guns in public within their boundaries. Read more here.
UN calls for submissions on armed violence and development
The UN Secretary-General has requested Member States to submit their view on the relationship between armed violence and development by 31 May. For further information please go here.
Zambia: Launch of national network on small arms
Congratulations to members of the Action Network Advisory on Small Arms (ANASA) in Zambia, launched on 16 March in Lusaka. The launch was attended by 12 media agencies and received coverage on three TV channels. Senior police officials also attended and announced a public gun destruction to take place in July. Read more here.
Italy: International campaign against organised crime
The European network of civil society organisations against organised crime, FLARE, launches its Season of Legality campaign on 21 March in Naples, Italy. The campaign will commemorate the victims and showcase how civil organisations are involved in the struggle against organised crime. Events are scheduled to take place in 28 countries, including activities at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 24 March. Read more here.
Kenya: Gun destruction for 9th anniversary of Nairobi Protocol
Kenya marked the 9th anniversary of the signing of the Nairobi declaration on small arms with the destruction of 2498 illicit firearms in Nairobi on 17 March. The destruction was organised by the Kenyan government and the Regional Centre on Small Arms, RECSA. Read more here.
Other news
- The Control Arms Foundation in India has continued its collaboration with Indian universities and thinktanks by holding seminars on the Arms Trade Treaty with students at the Jamia Milia Islamia and Jewaharlal Nehru Universities in New Delhi, on 16 and 18 March. Read more here.
- In Costa Rica, Centro de Amigos para la Paz and the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons co-hosted a regional conference on uranium use in conventional weapons and ammunition. Read more here.
- Handicap International-Belgium is recruiting an intern to work in its Policy Unit; UNDP has a number of consultancy positions to assist in the drafting of the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS); the Central American Small Arms Program is seeking a program officer based in El Salvador. IANSA Job Board.
Please send your stories on developments in small arms from around the world to louise.rimmer@iansa.org
Join the IANSA Women's Network: email
women@iansa.org
Join the Million Faces petition in support of a global Arms Trade Treaty
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