IANSA Update 23 May 2008

Ten days to go until the Global Week of Action!
Philippines: Mass shooting leaves 8 dead
Liberia: Ex-combatant guns increase armed robbery
Fiji: National Security Council to include Minister of Women
New York: Child Soldiers Global Report 2008
REMINDER: The deadline for BMS sponsorship is 1 June
Other news: International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament, De-weaponisation and Civil Society, DAGROPASS bulletin, Stop Cluster Munitions campaign, WILPF cluster munitions statement, Disarm Brazil Network conference

Ten days to go until the Global Week of Action!

Excitement is running high now that there are only 10 days left until the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, 2- 8 June. Remember to check the IANSA WoA webpage to see details of upcoming events. Please email Bruce.Millar@iansa.org for any last minute enquiries or louise.rimmer@iansa.org for any media–related questions.

Philippines: Mass shooting leaves 8 dead

Eight people, including five children, were shot dead by a lone gunman in the town of Calamba in the Philippines on 19 May. The shooter opened fire with an M-16 assault rifle on several houses where the children were asleep. The weapon was believed to be stolen from a retired police officer. The mass murder comes just two days after 9 people were shot dead during a bank robbery in the same province. The national disarmament network, PhilANSA, said ‘These shootings highlight the clear need for more effective gun control legislation and tougher implementation of existing laws in the Philippines.’ Approximately 18 people are killed by firearms each day in the country and 78% of murders are committed using small arms. Read more here.

Liberia: Ex-combatant guns increase armed robbery
The circulation of small arms from ex-combatants could be responsible for an increase in armed robbery in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. A report by the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LiNCSA) says that only one weapon was surrendered for every four combatants during the disarmament process, suggesting that a large number of guns remain at large. The Liberian Action Network on Small Arms (LANSA) says many combatants were too frightened to hand in their weapons after the process officially closed, for fear of being prosecuted for illegal gun possession. The current increase in armed violence has reportedly prompted civilians to form vigilante defence groups. Local patrols say they do not believe police are able to provide adequate protection.
IANSA
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Fiji: National Security Council to include Minister of Women
The Fiji Cabinet has declared that the Minister of Women, Gender and Development will be included in the National Security Council. In principle this appointment offers women a visible role in national security affairs, but the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC), a member of the IANSA Women’s Network , remains sceptical. Without the democratic election of female representatives into the National Security Council, PCRC questions whether women will be truly represented in conflict management and peace building in accordance with UN SCR 1325. Read more here.

New York: Child Soldiers Global Report 2008
The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers launched its Global Report 2008 on 20 May in New York. The report is a comprehensive overview of military recruitment legislation, policy and practice and child soldier use worldwide. The full report is here.

REMINDER: The deadline for BMS sponsorship is 1 June
Find out more here.

Other news

• International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament is 24 May and aims to raise support for women’s peace initiatives. More information here.
• The University for Peace and IANSA Women’s Network member Centro de Amigos para la Paz will host a workshop on Nonviolence and Civil Society on 30-31 May in Costa Rica. For more information please email: sandritaribas@gmail.com
• The UN DPI/ NGO Executive Committee has launched Deweaponisation and Civil Society (DEWs), to raise awareness of the importance of engaging civil society in preventing violence. Sarah Masters, IANSA Women’s Network Coordinator and member of the DEWs Advisory Team, is the point of contact for DEWs Women's section. On 5-7 June, DEWs will be formally launched at the annual conference of the Academic Council of the UN System in Bonn (Germany). More details here.
• IANSA Women’s Network member DAGROPASS in Burundi has released its latest bulletin, focussing on UNSCR 1325. The report can be found in French here.
• Stop Cluster Munitions has launched a campaign calling on governments to negotiate and adopt the strongest treaty possible banning cluster bombs. Read more here.
• The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is calling for women and gender to be included in the Cluster Munitions Treaty with a reference to UNSCR 1325. Read more here.
• The Disarm Brazil Network will host a seminar on 26-28 May to discuss a new voluntary gun buy-back campaign. The event will include representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Federal Police and members of Congress. Read more here.
  

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