| |
| |
| Site Additions: January 2006 |
| |
24 January
|
UN Small Arms Prepcom
The PrepCom highlighted the stark divisions between the progressive Member States and those less prepared to move forward on the small arms problem. On a number of substantial and procedural questions, the majority of governments supported holistic positions broadly similar to those of IANSA members. A smaller group, including the US, Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, Egypt and China, tended to oppose these positions and insisted instead on a restrictive view of the problem and of the PoA
The draft of the Chair's paper is available along with other conference papers, IANSA position papers and presentations, and other documents from the meeting. |
|
Congo, Haiti, Sierra Leone: Survivors speak out in new reports
Reports on the human impact of small arms proliferation in Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone were launched at the PrepCom by the Control Arms campaign. The reports are online at http://www.iansa.org/un/review2006/survivors.htm. These reports contributed to the press coverage of the PrepCom, which also included a set of articles in Avvenire, the newspaper of the Catholic Church in Italy. |
|
Canada: Gun laws at risk after election
Gun law reform was a hot topic during the Canadian general election (23 January). Following a series of gun murders in Toronto, all three main national parties promised to increase minimum sentences for gun crimes. Two of these parties also supported a ban on handguns. The Conservatives, who now form the minority government, did not support further regulations on handguns. They have also threatened to dismantle the current gun licensing and registration system, even though the system is supported by both victims of gun violence and the police. Canada's stronger gun laws have been linked to significant declines in gun deaths and injuries, especially those involving rifles and shotguns, the focus of the legislation. |
|
Aerial gunfire campaign roundup
Every year IANSA members campaign to stop the aerial celebratory gunfire that leads to death, disability and injury during the New Year period. |
|
|
|
|
