Armed violence and development

Gun violence exacerbates poverty. At the same time, poverty provides the ideal breeding ground for gun violence. Sustainable development is undermined as long as this cycle remains unbroken.

Lost productivity due to homicides alone is conservatively estimated at between USD $95 and 163 billion each year. An estimated 60% of these homicides were carried out with firearms. Violence due to armed conflict can also decrease the annual growth of a typical economy by 2%.

The UN General Assembly has acknowledged this link between gun violence and development, as did the 2005 World Summit. Many countries support the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence & Development, which seeks to achieve measurable reductions in the global burden of armed violence by 2015.

 

Latest news

Online exhibition on militarism in Israel

The online exhibition ‘Making Militarism Visible’, developed by New Profile in Israel, aims to provide the viewer with an understanding of how Israeli society perceives and justifies its military mindsets

New Saferworld website on China and conventional arms

Saferworld and Tongji University’s School of Political Science and International Relations have launched a new website to stimulate dialogue and deepen understanding in China on the global proliferation of conventional arms.

Brazil: Young people participate in community survey on guns and disarmament

In Brazil, a group of ten young researchers conducted a survey in M'Boi Mirim in São Paulo exploring perceptions and attitudes on security, gun control and voluntary disarmament in the area.

Journal on guns in Latin America

The latest issue of the Journal URVIO of the Latin American Social Sciences Institute (FLACSO) is devoted to the topic of firearms.<--break-> It was edited by Alejandra Otamendi and includes articles on arms trafficking in Colombia, the implementation of the Disarmament Statute in Brazil, and trafficking of illicit guns and ammunition in Guatemala and the Central American region.

Norwegian Campaign highlights irresponsible arms trade

“Sweet Norwegian Deals” is a new campaign by the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) which highlights how Norwegian export policy, particularly on arms and ammunition, is contributing to poverty and under-development.

Latest resources

New website on armed violence in Nepal

Despite the signing of the 2006 Peace Accords, political, economic, and social violence continue to simmer across Nepal, according to the Small Arms Survey.

Africa’s missing billions: International arms flows and the cost of conflict

Africa suffers enormously from conflict and armed violence. As well as the human tragedy, armed conflict costs Africa around $18bn per year, seriously derailing development.

Small arms report by the UN Secretary General, 2011

This report by the UN Secretary-General was submitted to the UN Security Council to bring them up to date on issues that were presented to them in the 2008 SG report on Small Arms

NGO Presentations at the ATT Prepcom, 3 March 2011

On 3 March, members of the Control Arms Campaign addressed the UN, as part of the second session of the Preparatory Committee on the Arms Trade Tready (ATT).

Geneva Declaration on armed violence and development

The Geneva Declaration is an ongoing process between UN Members States, UN agencies and civil society seeking to reduce the impact of armed violence on sustainable development. The website includes data, case studies and other resources.

UNDP's work on small arms control

The UN Development Program has a variety of projects aiming to prevent armed violence from undermining poverty reduction.

QUNO on Facebook

The Working Group on Armed Violence and Development is now on Facebook.

Argentina: International arms transfers control

IANSA member APP presented its new book “International Arms Transfers Control” on 3 June at a Mercosur government meeting in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Searching for Aid Effectiveness in Small Arms Assistance

This report explores the links between small arms control and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and the Accra Agenda for Action, the principle international standards for aid effectiveness.

Oslo Commitments on Armed Violence & Development (2010)

A number of countries now support the 2010 Oslo Commitments, seeking to reduce armed violence as part of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Violence in Uruguay

A new article analyses the connections between crime and the economic and political situation in Uruguay.

Report on firearms control

A new report “Stopping the Destructive Spread of Small Arms” discusses the challenges that gun proliferation poses for sustainable security and development.

Armed violence and development: Report of UN Secretary General, 2009

This 2009 report from the UN Secretary-General recommends that armed violence prevention should be part of the review process for the Millennium Development Goals. It also recommends that armed violence prevention programmes recognise the gendered nature of armed violence.

Positions of UN member states on armed violence and development (2009)

The UN Secretary-General requested the views of countries on the links between armed violence and sustainable development. Read what your country submitted.

Promoting development through the reduction and prevention of armed violence

This 2008 resolution of the UN General Assembly stresses the need for a coherent and integrated approach to the prevention of armed violence, with a view to achieving sustainable peace and development.

Small arms report by the UN Secretary General, 2008

This report by the UN Secretary General came as response to a statement from the UN Security Council in 2007, requesting that they receive a report on small arms every two years

Manual for estimating the economic cost of violent injuries

Globally, there is very little information on the true costs of armed violence. This UN manual provides a methodology to allow national researchers to collect and analyse data on the costs of injuries, including gun injuries.

Shooting down the MDGs

Irresponsible arms transfers are undermining many developing countries’ chances of achieving their Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets.

Securing Development

A 2005 summary of UNDP’s work to reduce armed violence, including case studies. It also contains a table showing how gun violence undermines the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Guns or Growth?

This report from the Control Arms Campaign includes a methodology for allowing government arms export officials to determine if the transfer is likely to undermine development in the recipient country.