Latest events in the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence: 19 June

Please visit www.iansa.org/woa to see photos, posters and more information about the Week’s events.

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AFRICA
* Angola: Minister says gun crime has dropped
* Central African Republic: Survey of armed groups by UN news agency
* Côte d’Ivoire: Survey on proliferation; ATT support
* Gambia: Government urged to support ATT
* Guinea Conakry: Government pledge on ECOWAS convention and ATT
* Kenya: Press conference urges ATT action
* Lesotho: Government called to account on armed violence and development
* Liberia: DDV and ATT
* Malawi: Week of Action on the radio
* Mali: New code of conduct for gun-makers
* Namibia: Gun-free schools campaign

AMERICAS
* Guatemala: Events highlight gun toll
* México: Regional seminar on ATT
* Peru: ATT pledges at human security forum
* Uruguay: Bumper sticker campaign

ASIA
* Australia: Expectation building for Pacific islands meeting
* India: Nobel boost for ATT petition
* Nepal: Arms brokering on the agenda for South and Central Asia
* New Zealand: Call for ATT
* New Zealand: Medical journal article on Pacific gun violence

EUROPE
* Belgium: Advocacy for an ATT
* France: ATT T-Shirt design competition
* Kosovo: Strategy for collecting illegal weapons
* Vatican: Pax Christi network invited to join the campaign

AFRICA

* Angola
A national civilian disarmament campaign has been fundamental to a successful drop in gun crime, according to a statement from the Minister of Interior Roberto Leal Monteiro on 15 June.

* Central African Republic
A survey of the different armed forces contributing to conflict and insecurity in Central African Republic was published by the UN humanitarian news agency IRIN on 17 June. The wide range of armed groups means that ‘security remains elusive’, according to the report.
Report: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Africa.htm#CAR

* Côte d’Ivoire
A debate was organised at the Pullman Hotel in Abidjan by WAANSA Côte d’Ivoire in Partnership with RJS and ECOSAP on 17 June. General Adjoussou Désiré, president of the Ivorian Commission against proliferation and illicit trade in small arms, said the Commission had compiled a survey on the situation in the Ivory Coast. He also confirmed that the government is supporting the ATT.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Africa.htm#Cot

* Gambia
The Week of Action was featured in the Banjul Observer, Gambia’s national newspaper. The government must support a strong ATT at the meeting in New York next month, said Pamela Cole of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding: “Our government must step forward now to argue for a tough Arms Trade Treaty. Otherwise, the voice of less scrupulous countries will prevail, and dangerous arms transfers will continue unchecked”.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Africa.htm#Gambia

* Guinea Conakry
ABC Development and WAANSA Guinea took part in a discussion at Guinea Broadcasting on 17 June. They met Hadja Diafarou Djeng, who is in charge of arms and munitions at the Department of Homeland Security, and president of the National commission against the proliferation of small arms. She affirmed the commitment of Guinea to ratify the ECOWAS regional convention on small arms and also to support the ATT.

* Kenya
The Kenya Action Network on Small Arms (KANSA) held a press conference in Nairobi on 17 June to pressure the government to push for a strong Arms Trade Treaty. The event was organised by Umoja as One, PeaceNet and SRIC, arguing that a strong treaty would give the government better control over the flow of arms entering the country. Participants also urged the government to explore a diplomatic approach to avoid conflict with neighbouring Somalia. KANSA member Jan Kamenju called on the administration to implement the policies it has previously announced. Rev. Jules Renzano noted that more inclusive partnerships between government and civil society would help stem the increase of firearms in Kenya.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Africa.htm#Ken

* Lesotho
Katleho Pefole from the Transformation Resource Centre met Mako Sholo, the new legal representative in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to brief him about the ATT and to ask why Lesotho did not make a submission to the UNSG consultation on armed violence and development. A full report of the meeting will follow.

* Liberia
On 18 June Kerian Pelenah, Program Manager and ATT Coordinator of Liberians United to Expose Hidden Weapons (LUEHW) explained the importance of the Week of Action to Patience Guanu on the UN Radio programme ‘Coffee Break’. Kerian drew attention to two of this year’s themes: the human toll of SALW proliferation and misuse, and the launch of the Disarm Domestic Violence Campaign. Later, members of LUEHW organised discussions with the Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Justice in Monrovia. They called on the Liberian government to support a comprehensive ATT based on the Global Principles for international arms transfers.

* Malawi
Radio stations across Malawi discussed the problem of gun violence this week, thanks to intensive advocacy from PEFENAP. Radio One, Radio Two, ZBS and Radio Biak reported the week, and Edward Chaka from PEFENAP was interviewed by Transworld Radio and Radio Power 11 (14 June) and Radio Islam (16 June). The group also organised an evening of spiritual songs commemorating gun violence survivors on 15 June.

* Mali
The Control Arms committee met local gunsmiths in Bamako on 17 June. At the meeting were representatives from the journalists’ network RJSDAO and Amnesty International Mali. Mr Wernangoré Youssouf, president of the gunsmiths’ group, said his organization was introducing a code of conduct in which all weapons must be registered and marked to make them identifiable. 108 gunsmiths have responded.

* Namibia
Pauline Dempers of the NANGOF Trust gave presentations on 17 and 19 June about the Gun-Free Namibia campaign to the staff of two schools in Katutura, a low-income suburb of Windhoek. Staff at Jan Jonker Afrikaner Senior Secondary School and Goreangab Junior Secondary School heard about the benefits of declaring their schools gun-free, and were urged to talk to students about the campaign. After the presentation at Goreangab School, staff voted to declare the school a gun-free zone. Staff at Jan Jonker are discussing the idea.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Africa.htm#Nam

AMERICAS

* Guatemala
IEPADES and other NGOs in Red por la Vida (Network for Life) held a street festival, a workshop and press conference to publicise information about recent amendments to the national Firearms Law. Journalists were given profiles of several members of Red por la Vida who have been shot dead this year.
Photos: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Americas.htm#gua

* Mexico
The regional meeting for the Americas on the ATT was held in Mexico City on 18-19 June, organised by UNIDIR and funded by the European Union. It was a meeting of states, but several members of IANSA and CLAVE attended: Marisol Alonzo of Guatemala for IEPADES, Cesar Marin of Venezuela for the IANSA Secretariat, and Maria Pia Devoto from Asociación para la Políticas Publicas in Argentina. They urged Latin American governments to support a strong ATT. UNIDIR’s Deputy Director, Christiane Agboton-Johnson, mentioned the Week of Action during the opening ceremony. The meeting received wide media coverage.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Americas.htm#Mex

* Peru
The Peruvian Disarmament Network (REPEDC) organised a forum about human security on June 17 at the Congress in Lima. Congressman Luis Humberto Falla confirmed that the Peruvian government will participate in the forthcoming OEWG meeting in New York. Advisory Minister Vitaliano Gallardo spoke about implementation of the UN Programme of Action. Congressmen Yonhy Lescano said the government would work closely with civil society and pledged to support the work of the Peruvian Disarmament Network. Silvia Loli Espinoza, Director of Amnesty International Peru urged the ministries of Education, Social Development and Women’s Affairs to participate more actively in peace and disarmament initiatives. John Charles Torres, National Coordinator of REPEDC, spoke about the need for stronger gun control and urged the government to support a strong ATT at the July meeting. The event was broadcast on the Congress TV Channel. More information at www.desarmeperu.org

* Uruguay
The civilian disarmament Group ALUDEC persuaded 500 drivers to display Control Arms bumper stickers during a leafleting campaign on the central avenues of Montevideo. They also sent information about the Week of Action to policymakers and posted videos and information about the Week of Action on Facebook and other websites. ALUDEC designed a dramatic poster for this year’s Week of Action which is being used by NGOS all around the world. http://www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/materials.htm#ALUDEC

ASIA

* Australia
Pre-conference media publicity is helping to generate interest in a Pacific regional meeting on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA). The meeting, organised by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) will take place in Sydney on 22-23 June. 17 Pacific countries are expected to be represented, as well as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Several IANSA member groups will also attend.
Media: www.isria.com/pages/19_June_2009_22.htm

* India
The Control Arms Foundation in New Delhi has launched an online petition in support of the ATT. Already the petition has over 50,000 signatures, including Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, former Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister Professor MGK Menon, actress Nandita Das, singer Rabbi Shergil, and activist Swami Agniwesh. Former Navy chief Admiral L Ramdas added his support to the campaign, saying: “As someone who has served in the Indian Navy around the world, I have seen the human cost of conflict and instability fuelled by uncontrolled arms sales. An Arms Trade Treaty is a crucial aspect of ensuring security for India and the whole world.” www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Asia.htm#Ind

* Nepal
Government representatives from 10 countries in Central and South Asia joined a workshop on controlling arms brokering, organised by the UN Regional Centre for Peace & Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNCRPD), Kathmandu 17-18 June. Participants shared information on procedures to prevent illicit arms dealing. According to Shobha Shrestha of SAP Nepal: “This was an important first step for many countries which have previously been silent on small arms issues in this region.” IANSA Policy Officer Alun Howard gave a presentation on the recent work of IANSA members in the region. The workshop was covered in regional online media Including the Web Newswire and Indopia. Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Asia.htm#Nep

* New Zealand
Patrick Holmes, CEO of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, called this week for a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty. He said: “The gun violence epidemic cannot be treated by any one country acting alone: a global preventative measure is needed. New Zealand has a real opportunity to influence global human security and reduce the suffering around the world.” He was joined by Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam NZ, who said that New Zealand’s participation in the ATT process was vital to ensure a tough and effective treaty. Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Asia.htm#NZ

* New Zealand
Dr Andrew Winnington highlighted IPPNW’s work in the Pacific region in the latest issue of the Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association. The article describes IPPNW’s contribution to a Pacific-focused programme of arms control and disarmament to compliment other activities in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.

EUROPE

* Belgium
Amnesty International Belgium has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking Belgium to adopt a strongly supportive position during the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) discussions at the UN next month.

* France
Amnesty International and ethical T-shirt company Monsieur Poulet organised a “Draw your own T-Shirt” competition in support of the Arms Trade Treaty. The contest runs until 24 June. Visitors to the website can vote for their favourite design. www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Europe.htm#Fra

* Kosovo
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Zenun Pajaziti, chaired a meeting on 18 June to plan Kosovo’s strategy for collecting illegal weapons currently possessed by civilians. UNDP Kosovo has developed the outline of the strategy. Other participants came from the National Commission on small arms, the Ministry of Interior, the parliament and the EU. The meeting received extensive coverage in the media.
Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Europe.htm#Kos

* Vatican
The Vatican News Agency featured an article by the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi on 17 June, supporting the Disarm Domestic Violence Campaign and urging all Pax Christi affiliates worldwide to join it. Media: www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2009/Europe.htm#Vat

Please tell us about the events in your countries as soon as possible so we can broadcast them to the network!