Site Additions: December 2005

16 December

China: Investigation urged into shootings

Chinese security forces fired at protestors in Dongzhou village, Guangdong (China) on 6 December. This is the first known public shooting of protestors since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. At least three people were killed but the death toll could be as high as twenty, according to some reports. Human Rights Watch is calling for an independent and transparent investigation.

Canada: Handgun ban proposed during election campaign

The Canadian national elections on 23 January will be particularly interesting to campaigners working to prevent gun violence. Ahead in the polls, the Liberal Party supports revising the gun laws so that provinces will be able to ban handguns.

Spain: Parliament votes for strong transfer controls

Following a campaign by IANSA members in Spain, the parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to present revised arms control legislation during 2006. The revised legislation must ensure that arms transfers scrupulously obey the EU Code of Conduct and that any authorisations are fully transparent. The parliament has also specified minimum reporting requirements.

Spain: Parliament votes for strong transfer controls

En España, el Congreso de los Diputados aprobó por unanimidad una Proposición No de Ley, donde insta al Gobierno que presente en el plazo de un año un Proyecto de Ley para el control del comercio de armas. Este Proyecto deberá contener un procedimiento transparente para la autorización de las transferencias, garantías de escrupuloso seguimiento del Código de Conducta de la UE, las indicaciones mínimas que debe contener el informe oficial sobre las estadísticas españolas al respecto y el envío periódico de información al Congreso sobre las transferencias autorizadas y realizadas en el último periodo de referencia.

Two UN reports on violence against women

Two recent UN publications feature on the IANSA Women's Portal. The harrowing story of 'Elizabeth' from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is taken from a collection of testimonies from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The second publication is a set of UN guidelines on preventing gender based violence in humanitarian settings. It refers to guns as one of the facilitating factors for such violence.

10 December

Make Some Noise, Silence The Guns

Amnesty International is launching the 'Make Some Noise' campaign, using the songs of musician John Lennon to promote the value of human rights worldwide. Lennon was shot dead on 8 December 1980.

UN imposes global assets freeze for Liberia sanction busters

The UN Security Council has requested that all governments freeze the financial assets of two associates of notorious gunrunner Victor Bout. The Security Council has also expanded its list of companies whose assets should be frozen for their suspected role in violating the UN arms embargo on Liberia.

Child soldiers newsletter

Children in non-state armed groups are the focus of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldier's latest newsletter (Winter 2005).

2 December

International Day of Disabled Persons

Every year, one million lives are shattered in an instant by non-fatal gun injuries. In developing countries, where support services are scarce or non-existent, severe disability can mean a life of isolation, poverty and despair.

Central America: Code of Conduct adopted for Arms Transfers

A legally-binding Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers will be adopted by the Central America regional organisation (SICA), on 2 December. This is very significant, acknowledging that while Central America is not a major arms producer, governments there are nonetheless responsible for the weapons that travel through their territory.

Middle East / North Africa news bulletin

The latest monthly bulletin from the Middle East / North Africa regional disarmament network is available.