Survivors

Although reliable data are not available, more than 1 million people a year are believed to be direct survivors of armed violence – people who have been shot, with potentially disabling results. Many millions more are affected by armed violence, through the trauma of losing a family member, or of being threatened at gunpoint (including armed domestic violence, and sexual violence against women, men and children).

In January 2012, we launched the IANSA Survivors Network to formalise an already existing network of campaigners and organisations working to promote survivors' rights and needs. More information about this network is available here: http://iansa.org/iansa-survivors-network

Latest news

Second UNPoA Review Conference - IANSA's Civil Society Summaries

 

IANSA has a presence at UN Headquarters these two weeks to ensure that civil society is strong and visible at the 2012 Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA), taking place from the 27th August to 7th September.
 
The summaries below provide some highlights of the work of the Review Conference.
 
UNPoA Second Review Conference

The Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (PoA) to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, is due to run from 27th August to 7th September at UN Headquarters in New York.

More than a decade has passed since the adoption of the PoA in 2001, which has laid the foundation for action at the national, regional and global levels.

India: One-day consultation on gun violence survivors’ rights

Manipur Women Survivors Gun Network and Control Arms Foundation of India, IANSA members in India, conducted a one-day community consultation to commemorate the Week of Action. The consultation highlighted survivors’ rights in conflict-ridden zones and called on the government to provide victim assistance and include provisions for it in the ATT. It also included a screening of the film, “The story of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network” and a discussion on the UNPoA. Panelists included several professors from Manipur University and civil society representatives including Mrs.

Latin America and the Caribbean: New report on national capacities to address armed violence

Action on Armed Violence, SEHLAC (Seguridad Humana en Latinoamerica y el Caribe), CERAC  (Conflict Analysis Resource Centre), SERPAJ Ecuador, Sou da Paz and the Violence Prevention Alliance in Jamaica are launching a report looking at national capacities to address the issue of armed violence in 12 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mexico: Conference on the international regulation of the arms trade from the perspective of survivors

In Mexico, the IANSA Survivors Network, along with its Mexican partners, is organising a conference on “The International Regulation of the Arms Trade: The Perspective of the Victims of Armed Violence”. Roberto Dondisch, the head of the Mexican delegation to the Arms Trade Treaty Diplomatic Conference will be a keynote speaker and the Norwegian Embassy will be a guest of honor.

Latest resources

Webinar on surviving gun violence

Cate Buchanan of the 'Surviving Gun Violence' project will lead a 'webinar' at 10am (UK time) on 15 March.

New WHO guide for psychological support in crisis situations

The World Health Organisation has released a guide for fieldworkers on how to provide social and psychological support to people affected by disasters, including survivors of conflict situations.

Voices of survivors: the different faces of gun violence

This publication, written by IANSA woman Laura Lyddon, features 16 testimonies acquired by IANSA of women survivors of gun violence from a number of different countries.

Sierra Leone’s armed conflict survivors

Few survivors of Sierra Leone's armed conflict have yet received reparation or compensation, according to a report by UK-based Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Survivors: Women affected by gun violence speak out
‘Survivors’ presents women’s experiences of gun violence in their own words.