Site Additions: October 2006

27 October

In an historic move towards better regulation of the global arms trade, a resounding majority of 139 states have voted at the UN First Committee to start work on an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The vote on 26 October paves the way for a feasibility report by the Secretary General and the establishment of a Group of Governmental Experts to examine the parameters of an ATT. The passage of the resolution represents a significant milestone in the fight to bring the global arms trade under control and was welcomed by IANSA, the Control Arms campaign and supporters around the world.

Award for Gun Free South Africa

Gun Free South Africa’s (GFSA) work was formally recognised at the 'Investing in the Future' awards on 26 October held in Johannesburg. GFSA was presented with the award in the 'not for profit' category.

Guns Or Growth?

The Australian Labor Party issued a discussion paper calling for harmonisation of gun laws in the Pacific, just before regional Heads of State met at the Pacific Islands Forum, 24-25 October in Nadi, Fiji. With gun proliferation fuelling ongoing unrest in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste, there is an urgent need for an increased commitment to tackling gun violence in the region. Governments were also urged by the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (an IANSA member) to take part in global action against weapons proliferation by supporting an ATT.

20 October

IANSA member in South Africa killed in road accident

We are saddened by the death of Sarah Meek, Head of Development at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in South Africa. Sarah was one of the founders of IANSA; her previous positions included Head of the Arms Management Program at ISS and Manager of the Security and Peacebuilding Program at International Alert (UK). Sarah died in a road accident on 26 October.

UN report on Timor-Leste finds government officials armed civilians

The report of the UN's Special Commission of Inquiry for Timor-Leste was released on 17 October. The Commission recommended prosecution of the then ministers for Defence and the Interior, as well as the Chief of Timor-Leste Defence Forces, having concluded that they authorised the illegal transfer of military small arms to civilians. The report also recommends further investigation into the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri on the grounds that he was probably aware of the transfers and may bear some criminal responsibility.

Nigerian IANSA member murdered

The murder of Dr Vincent Makanju, a prominent Nigerian peace activist and IANSA member, has shocked the international movement for peace and conflict prevention. Dr Makanju, director of the Peace Education Centre, was shot dead by intruders in his flat in Ile-Ife on 11 October.

IANSA presentation to GGE on Brokering in Geneva

The UN Group of Governmental Experts on small arms brokering completed its first session in Geneva (Switzerland) on 1 December. Nic Marsh of the Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT) addressed the GGE on behalf of IANSA.

13 October

Gun massacre at Iraqi TV station

Eleven Iraqis were killed when a group of gunmen attacked the Baghdad office of Shaabiya television station during the early hours of Thursday, 12 October. The attack followed the recent release of 'Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey', which concluded that guns were by far the major cause of death among Iraqi civilians following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Caribbean Round Table - Civil Society Response to Crime and Violence in the
Caribbean: Building Peaceful Communities

The report on the 'Caribbean Round Table Civil Society Response to Crime and Violence in the Caribbean: Building Peaceful Communities' conference, conducted in September at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago is available.

Women at Work: Preventing gun violence

The IANSA Women's Network Bulletin 9 is now available.

6 October

US: 3 deadly school shootings in a week

A gunman took young girls hostage at an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (US) on Monday 2 October. He shot ten girls before shooting himself. Five of the girls have died and the others are seriously wounded. This was the third school shooting in the US within a week

Human rights included in draft UN resolution on ATT

Success for IANSA's advocacy efforts: A reference to human rights has been included in the latest draft of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) resolution at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. The First Committee commenced on Monday 2 October and lasts until the end of the month, with voting likely to occur in the final week. If successful, the draft resolution will establish a Group of Governmental Experts to start developing an ATT.

Congo: Weapons-free zones in Kinshasa for elections

A temporary weapons-free zone has been created in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is to prevent repetition of the fighting that followed the first round of election results in August. Presidential candidates Kabila and Bemba have agreed to keep most of their troops off the streets until after the second round of voting on 29 October. However, Crisis Group remains concerned that the candidates have not agreed to limit the number of their private guards

Australia: Gun crime down in New South Wales

A new report shows that gun homicides have fallen steadily since 2001 in New South Wales, the most populated state of Australia. Australia reformed its gun laws in 1996.

The Toll of Small Arms

The latest bulletin from the Middle East and North Africa Action Network is now available.

1 October

Champion for women's rights killed in Afghanistan

Safia Ahmed-jan, a provincial director for the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Afghanistan, was shot dead outside her home on 25 September. A prominent campaigner for women's rights, she had taught girls during the Taliban era, when it was forbidden.

Globalisation of arms trade: new report

An Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is required to regulate the increasingly globalised arms trade, according to a new report from the Control Arms campaign. The report will be launched on 2 October at the start of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York. During the First Committee (which focuses on disarmament), governments will vote on a resolution to create a Group of Governmental Experts to consider an ATT.

US: 3 dead in school shootings

Two more school shootings in the US have resulted in three deaths. A 16-year-old girl was killed on 28 September at Platte Canyon High School in Colorado (US). The gunman also killed himself, using a handgun legally owned by his brother. A teacher was shot dead by a 15-year-old student at Weston High School, Wisconsin (US) on 29 October. The student reportedly used guns legally owned by his parents.