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Firearm violence prevention and gun control
Concerns About Influence of Canada's Gun Lobby on Arms Trade Treaty
4 April 2013
Toronto Star (Ontario)
The champagne was flowing Tuesday afternoon in the office of the Canadian charity Project Ploughshares.
Hours earlier, the United Nations in a 154-3 vote agreed to approve an arms trade treaty, a pact that has the promise to regulate the cross-border sale of conventional weapons. In theory, the treaty should stop arms makers from being able to sell so easily to countries with spotty human-rights records.
Tanks, combat aircraft, naval vessels, missiles and launchers,... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa: Making the Arms Trade Treaty Work in Practice is Real Challenge
3 April 2013
Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)
An outcome that does not make everyone happy is the hallmark of a successful negotiation process, to paraphrase Australian Ambassador Peter Woolcott, president of the United Nations' Final Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). He and his team certainly achieved that goal. Most states and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) agree that the treaty text does not meet the expectations that were created over the past two decades. However, mitigating this situation is... (GunPolicy.org)
China Says UN Arms Treaty Lacks Consensus
3 April 2013
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
There is no consensus on an international arms trade treaty, major weapons exporter China said on Wednesday, after it abstained as the UN General Assembly passed the measure by 154 votes to three.
The only votes against the first treaty on the conventional arms trade were from Syria, North Korea and Iran.
The 23 countries abstaining included Russia and China, ranked respectively as the number two and five weapons exporters by the Stockholm International Peace Research... (GunPolicy.org)
Americas,Asia,Africa,Oceania,Europe
UN Approves Global Gun Trade Treaty: NRA, Iran, N Korea, Syria Oppose
3 April 2013
Washington Post
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to create the first treaty regulating the international arms trade, a landmark decision that imposes new constraints on the sale of conventional arms to governments and armed groups that commit war crimes, genocide and other mass atrocities.
The vote was hailed by arms-control advocates and scores of governments, including the United States, as a major step in the global effort to put in place... (GunPolicy.org)
Iran,Syria,United Kingdom,Kenya,North Korea
Iran, N. Korea, Syria Block Arms Trade Treaty at Last Minute
29 March 2013
Australian (Sydney)
Iran, North Korea and Syria have held up agreement on the first global treaty on the $US80 billion ($A76.97 billion) a year conventional arms trade.
The three states twice blocked moves to adopt a treaty by consensus at the end of 10 days of arduous talks at the UN headquarters.
Kenya announced that a coalition of countries from around the world would now take the treaty straight to the 193-member UN General Assembly next week for approval. It can be passed with a two... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad Says Handguns are Their Weapons of Mass Destruction
27 March 2013
Trinidad and Tobago Express
Small arms, including handguns and rifles, are weapons of mass destruction in this country, said Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran.
Dookeran made the statement on Tuesday night as he delivered the opening remarks at a town meeting held by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) at his constituency office in Tunapuna.
Dookeran is the Member of Parliament for Tunapuna.
"Small arms are an important part of the armoury of the criminal industry and the region has... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Mexico,United Kingdom,Ghana,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Arms Trade Treaty Talks Enter Stormy Final Round
26 March 2013
Rappler / Agence France Presse
More than 100 countries complained Monday that talks on a conventional arms trade treaty had gone "backwards" from a vow to conclude a strong accord on the $80 billion a year trade.
The major western powers, who expressed confidence that an accord could be reached, face tough criticism over the treaty as talks at the UN headquarters entered the final straight.
A group representing 103 countries blasted the latest text as a step "backwards."
A statement by the 103,... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Asia,Europe,Africa,Americas,United States
NGOs Slam New Arms Trade Treaty Draft, Blame US for Changes
25 March 2013
Reuters
Human rights groups on Monday sharply criticized the latest draft of what could become the first international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global conventional arms trade, accusing the United States and others of pushing to dilute it.
Several Western delegations, however, played down the complaints of groups like Oxfam, Amnesty International, the World Council of Churches and Control Arms, saying the latest draft showed progress, though improvements were clearly... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Global Gun Grabbers Team with UN to Prep African Countries for Arms Trade Treaty
15 March 2013
Fox News (USA)
A week before it opens a treaty conference to impose worldwide limitations on arms sales, the United Nations co-hosted and paid for a series of meetings involving 48 African nations and an anti-gun group that espouses much greater national and international control of firearms, including registration of small arms and ammunition.
The co-host of the gathering in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa was a multinational "civil society" network known as IANSA, which calls... (GunPolicy.org)
How Brazil Exploited Sexual Insecurity to Curb Guns
8 March 2013
Bloomberg (USA)
Brazil has a gun culture, a gun industry and a gun problem -- much like the U.S. In fact, more Brazilians than Americans died of gunfire in 2010.
Yet Brazil's 2010 tally, 34,300 deaths, was significantly lower than its gun fatalities in 2003 (39,284), when the government enacted major gun-control regulation. I asked Brazilian political scientist Antonio Bandeira, who coordinates the arms-control program of Viva Rio, a nongovernmental organization in Rio De Janeiro, how... (GunPolicy.org)
Canada's Top Concern at UN Arms Trade Treaty: 'Protecting Gun Owners'
5 March 2013
Ottawa Citizen (Ontario)
OTTAWA — For nearly two weeks last year, diplomats from Canada and the rest of the world gathered at the United Nations in New York to discuss ways to crack down on the illicit trade in small arms and ammunition.
But rather than working to strengthen those efforts, newly released documents show Canadian officials were instructed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government to "play a low-key, minimal role" — and that their main objective was safeguarding Canadian... (GunPolicy.org)
Nepal Govt Asks Citizens to Submit Illegal Guns
2 March 2013
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - The Ministry of Home Affairs today appealed to all concerned to submit all types of weapons, both small and large, to the concerned District Administration Office, District Police Office or the nearest police unit by March 28, failing which legal action under the Arms and Ammunition Act-1963 would be initiated.
The move follows the growing possession and use of unlicenced weapons, small arms in particular, among the persons with criminal mindset to disturb... (GunPolicy.org)
US Govt Under Pressure from Both Sides on Arms Trade Treaty
20 February 2013
The Hill (Washington DC), Blog
President Obama is coming under renewed pressure to back a worldwide arms trade treaty at the United Nations after backing off ahead of last year's elections.
Human rights groups are demanding that the United States take the lead in creating international standards for cross-border weapons sales when the U.N. starts a second round of talks March 18.
Last year's talks came to a screeching halt after the Obama administration asked for more time following intense... (GunPolicy.org)
Mexicans Swap Over 3,000 Guns for Computers, Bikes in Amnesty
6 February 2013
InSight Crime (Bogota)
Mexico City authorities have received over 3,000 firearms in exchange for cash, bicycles, tablet computers and other goods, in new amnesty program aimed at tackling gun crime.
The program, "For your family, voluntarily disarmament" (Por tu familia, desarme voluntario), has been running in three of Mexico City's 16 districts for the last two months. El Capitalino reports that government officials associated with the program have visited nearly half a million homes in... (GunPolicy.org)
Mali,Libya,United States,West Africa,Niger
Internationalist Blog: How Libyan Weapons Fueled Mali's Violence
29 January 2013
Council on Foreign Relations, Blog
The violence that has plagued once-stable Mali since late 2011 should have come as no surprise to Western governments, for it is a direct function of NATO's Libyan intervention. By adopting a "light footprint" approach in Libya, the alliance unwittingly contributed to a security vacuum that allowed countless weapons to stream out of Libya and fuel insurgency, extremism, and crime in neighboring countries. One of these countries was Mali, where the flood of weapons from... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Russia,China,Mexico
Mexico's Gun Problems Go Beyond Drug Wars
11 January 2013
Inter Press Service News Agency
MEXICO CITY - A lot of attention goes to the U.S.-made weapons in the hands of criminal groups in this Latin American country. But there is little talk of another problem: the large number of light weapons in the hands of civilians.
The Mexican Constitution establishes the people's right to "own guns in their homes for their safety and self-defence", with the exception of high caliber weapons, while the 1972 Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives stipulates the... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia,Ukraine,Kenya,East Africa,European Union,Israel,Libya,Yemen,Ethiopia,United States,Somalia
Special Investigation: Lack of Gun Treaty Fuels Kenyan Smuggling Trade
9 January 2013
Star (Kenya)
Whether looking after his herd of cattle or taking them to the watering point, Boru hardly leaves his AK47 behind. He lives in the outskirts of Gambella village, a few kilometres from Isiolo town.
"It has become like a stick for me. I carry it around and my enemies fear me. It gives me more power than I had before I acquired it," Boru said.
Taking cover from the scorching sun under the shade of an old acacia tree, Boru, a father of three, told the Star he bought his... (GunPolicy.org)
Uganda,Ethiopia,Kenya,South Sudan,Somalia,East Africa,Tanzania
Special Investigation: How Smugglers are Flooding Kenya with Guns
8 January 2013
Star (Kenya), Series
There are estimated 530,000-680,000 firearms in the wrong hands in Kenya. The number of illegal arms has grown over the years and is said to fuel the conflicts witnessed within Kenya and the region.
In an investigation that took close to a year, our correspondent Kassim Mohamed tracked down some of the people who smuggle small arms and light weapons into Kenya and unveils a dangerous trend that can affect the current peace if nothing is done by not just the Kenyan... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,United States,Americas,Oceania,Europe,Asia
US Gun Lobby Accused of Lying to Public About UN Arms Trade Treaty
28 December 2012
Reuters
The leading U.S. pro-gun group, the National Rifle Association, has vowed to fight a draft international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global arms trade and dismissed suggestions that a recent U.S. school shooting bolstered the case for such a pact.
The U.N. General Assembly voted on Monday to restart negotiations in mid-March on the first international treaty to regulate conventional arms trade after a drafting conference in July collapsed because the U.S. and... (GunPolicy.org)
Call for Illegal Arms to be Impounded in Tanzania
6 December 2012
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salam), Opinion
Recent State campaign against illegal ownership of small firearms succeeded in impounding 304 guns. It is kudos for the Police Force.
The number of firearms found during the brief campaign must have shocked the nation. The find pointed to the stark reality that too many arms were in dangerous hands. In fact, armed banditry has escalated to alarming proportions in the last few months.
It is this nettling situation that has prompted the government to issue an ultimatum... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union Assesses Arms Trafficking Progress
19 November 2012
Europa (European Union), Speech
I am delighted to welcome you all to our conference on the fight against illicit trafficking in firearms, in the EU and beyond.
We have in the room today some of the leading experts on the topic – from law enforcement, industry, policy makers, and from civil society.
For you, it will not come as a surprise that the Commission puts focus on this issue by organising this conference. Still, it is worth recalling that despite repeated political declarations, at... (GunPolicy.org)
South Sudan Passes New Law on Guns, Bans Possession Without Licence
15 November 2012
Sudan Tribune (France)
BOR — Lawmakers in South Sudan's eastern state of Jonglei, the scene of a localised rebellion and controversial disarmament campaign, have passed a bill making it illegal for civilians to carry guns or ammunition without a licence.
The Social Firearms and Ammunitions Control Bill, passed in the state parliament's last session before the long Christmas recess, is in response to ongoing insecurity in the state.
It is almost a year since cattle raiding and reprisal... (GunPolicy.org)
Authorities Worried About Gun Crime, Availability of Weapons Rising
7 November 2012
Gulf Times (Doha) / Agence France Presse
It was a classic bank heist in many ways. Armed men using a stolen car and motorbikes held up a van carrying cash in central New Delhi, shot a guard, and made off with the money.
While familiar in many countries and a set-piece of Hollywood films, it set alarm bells ringing in India where gun crime and armed robbery is still low by the standards of other developing countries in Latin America or Africa.
The daylight robbery in September and several mass shootings in... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone Govt, Civil Society Promote New Gun Law
31 October 2012
Awoko (Sierra Leone)
The Sierra Leone Action on Small Arms [SLANSA] in collaboration with Sierra Leone Commission on Small Arms [SLeNCSA] with support from Action on Armed Violence [AOAV] has held an open forum on the popularization of the Arms and Ammunition Acts 2012. Addressing his audience, the key note speaker retired LT. Col. Mbaday Bangura said the government has officially passed the Acts on Small Arms into law and that the people of the country need to know about it. He said owners... (GunPolicy.org)
30,000 Guns Destroyed in Croatia in Battle Against Illegal Trafficking
19 October 2012
SEESAC (Belgrade)
On 19 October 2012, less than two years after the Croatian President Ivo Josipovic symbolically destroyed the first rifle marked for destruction, the last of 30,000 small arms and light weapons were disposed of, as a part of the EU supported SEESAC Arms Control Activities in the Western Balkans. The final, public destruction took place in Varazdin and was attended by Evelin Tonkovic - Deputy Minister of Interior (MoI) of the Republic of Croatia, Louisa Vinton - the UN... (GunPolicy.org)
Russia Calls for Ban on Gun Sales to NGO End-Users, Prevents Diversion
8 October 2012
Russia Beyond the Headlines / Interfax
Russia has called on the world to agree on selling small arms and light weapons only to authorized dealers of importer countries, Russian Foreign Ministry security and disarmament department head Alexander Deineko said in an interview with Interfax.
Russia has suggested a set of measures, which would tighten control over the distribution of small arms and light weapons, primarily in the areas where the risk of an arms leak to the black market is high, he said.
"For... (GunPolicy.org)
4,773 Firearms Symbolically Destroyed In Sierra Leone
25 September 2012
Awoko (Sierra Leone)
The national secretariat of Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms (SLeNCSA) have symbolically burned Four Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three (4,773) Firearms that was collected by the UNDP Supported Arms for Development project which marked the climax of a process that started some 8 years ago. The ceremony took place at the Makeni Mena police field and drew the attention of all paramount chiefs in the North, government officials, military personnel, the... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany to Provide €500,000 to Combat Illegal Small Arms in Nigeria
19 September 2012
Vanguard (Lagos)
The Federal Republic of Germany has disclosed that it will provide 500,000 euros to finance projects implemented by the newly established United Nation (UN) fund to combat illegal small arms.
This is disclosed at the just concluded review conference on the programme of action on small arms and light weapons, the United Nations member states confirmed their commitment to fight illegal arms trading and to protect children in armed conflict.
Speaking on progress of UN... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela Authorities Destroy 12,000 Guns After Civilian Amnesty
19 September 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The Venezuelan government announced that it has destroyed more than 16,000 firearms so far this year, but despite this apparent success, concerns remain about the widespread availability of firearms in the country.
An official from the Venezuelan Commission for Arms Control and Disarmament also praised the recent handover of 1,418 weapons seized in various operations in the state of Aragua, saying it was "clear and convincing proof" that the government is fulfilling... (GunPolicy.org)
Rwanda Police Call on Public to Join Voluntary Gun Amnesty
11 September 2012
News of Rwanda
The Police have in the past conducted various campaigns to get firearm weapons from the public, but the rate at which they are causing harm shows that they are still scattered around the country.
Last week, September 5, a 12-year old boy died following a grenade explosion at their home in Nyarurama cell, Ntongwe sector, Ruhango District. The blast took place right in their store.
According to ACP Sam Karemera, the National Focal Point Coordinator on small arms and... (GunPolicy.org)
Strong Views on Japan Exports, US Role in Global Gun Trade
2 September 2012
Japan Times, Editorial
The international trade in small arms more than doubled since 2006, growing into a stunning $8.5 billion a year industry. The latest Small Arms Survey by an independent research group in Geneva found that large-scale government spending and increased purchases by American civilians, in addition to steady sales to developing countries, contributed to the upsurge.
The reported increase can also be attributed to better information and more thorough research. The result,... (GunPolicy.org)
Peru,Argentina,Dominican Republic,Colombia,Mexico,Russia,United States
What Google's Arms Trafficking Map Tells Us
28 August 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
The lights blanketing the globe on Google's latest foray into data visualization tell a hidden story of the gun trafficking business: that understanding the movement of ammunition is just as important as understanding the movement of weapons.
Google says the interactive map, which was a joint initiative between Google Ideas and the Brazil-based Igarape Institute, was pulled together using more than a million data points of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition... (GunPolicy.org)
South America,Central America,Caribbean
Report Shows Firearms Homicides in Latin America Exceed Global Rate
28 August 2012
InSight Crime (Bogota)
According to a recent report by European research project Small Arms Survey, 21 out of 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean exceed the global average for the number of homicides committed with firearms.
The report, released on August 27, shows that firearms homicides in Latin America and the Caribbean are far higher than the global average of 42 percent. Firearms were found to be used in 60 percent of homicides in South America, 61 percent in the Caribbean,... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,Oceania,Americas,Asia,Africa
Global Small Arms Trade Doubles In Six Years - Small Arms Survey
27 August 2012
Reuters
UNITED NATIONS - The annual authorized trade in small arms has more than doubled in the past six years to $8.5 billion, driven by Americans buying more guns and ammunition and big military purchases for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a survey found on Monday.
The Small Arms Survey 2012, an independent research project, found the top exporters with trade of at least $100 million were the United States, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Austria, Japan, Switzerland, Russia,... (GunPolicy.org)
Oman,Saudi Arabia,Bahrain,Kuwait
Friend Kills Groom at Kuwait Wedding with Celebratory Gunfire
22 August 2012
National (Abu Dhabi)
KUWAIT CITY - A Kuwaiti groom was killed on his wedding day after his friend accidentally shot him.
The friend, who surrendered to police, shot Abdullah Al Khaldi, 24, inside a car that was taking the wedding party to the marriage celebration.
Mr Khaldi, who worked for the ministry of defence, died before reaching hospital.
The incident, in Al Jahra neighbourhood of Kuwait City, has reignited a debate about civilian possession of firearms, which is legal in... (GunPolicy.org)
Bosnia & Herzegovina,Croatia,Eastern Europe,Romania,Greece,Bulgaria,Moldova,Macedonia,Serbia
Balkan Countries Loaded With Illegal Firearms
8 August 2012
Southeast European Times
Southeast Europe's are heavily armed – according to the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, people in the region legally own 3 million firearms and another 4 million illegal weapons.
Serbia leads the region in weapons, according to Ivan Cvijovic, police inspector at the public order sector of the Belgrade police department. The rate of registered firearms per 100 people is 15.81.
Montenegro has 14.36... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Urge Media to Steer Fight Against Illegal Guns in Rwanda
8 August 2012
Rwanda National Police News, Media release
On 06 Aug 2012, the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) in collaboration with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the National Focal Point Coordination met the local media in a bid to assess its role in creating awareness towards fighting trafficking of illicit and proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country.
Media as a form of communication which is accessible to nearly every Rwandan is being relied on to sensitize and advice the... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Canada,United States,Americas,Oceania,Europe,Asia,Mexico
Kenneth Epps: Farewell To The UN Arms Treaty – For Now
1 August 2012
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
Lost in the hoopla of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, a vital international marathon of another kind ended Friday with a race suspension just before the finish line. At the United Nations in New York, a month of intensive multilateral negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to regulate international transfers of conventional weapons concluded without agreement, largely because the United States called for more time on the final day.
The U.S. announcement was... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya,East Africa,Syria,Uganda
Stemming Gun Violence in Uganda
28 July 2012
The Independent (Kampala)
United Nations diplomats from over 190 countries, including Uganda, are at the organisation's headquarters in New York discussing a pact to regulate the global arms trade.
The Global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) would especially check the illicit trade in arms in a global arms industry that, while amounting to US$60 billion, remains unregulated. Advocates for the treaty say this lack of regulation of the arms industry is catastrophic, as it fuels conflicts that claim... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Africa,Americas,Asia,Europe,Oceania
Fact Check: Arms Trade Treaty Unlikely to Curb US Gun Rights - AP
28 July 2012
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Negotiators at the United Nations are working to put final touches on a treaty cracking down on the global, $60 billion business of illicit trading in small arms, a move aimed at curbing violence in some of the most troubled corners of the world. In the United States, gun activists denounce it as an attack on their constitutional right to bear arms.
"Without apology, the NRA wants no part of any treaty that infringes on the precious right of lawful... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Africa,Europe,Asia,Americas,United States
Gun Rights: Why UN Small Arms Treaty is Another Land Mine for Obama
26 July 2012
Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON - After last week's shooting in Colorado, President Obama's remarks Wednesday night about gun violence were a rare departure for a president who usually steers clear of the subject. Now another gun issue is coming to a head that the president likely would just as soon avoid: the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. …
The treaty, whose final version is due out on Friday, aims to regulate the $60 billion international trade in small arms in an effort to keep... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudan,Syria,Russia,China,Papua New Guinea,Fiji,Oceania
Pacific Nations Push for Global Arms Trade Treaty to Curb Gun Trade
19 March 2012
ABC News (Australia), Transcript
Every year illicit trade in small arms results in thousands of deaths. Most of them in developing countries, including the Pacific, where the impact of gun violence has been devastating.
Now the international community is to meet at the United Nations to finalise the first ever global arms trade treaty.
HELEN HAKENA, WOMEN'S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNER: I was seven months pregnant when gunmen came into our village terrorising the entire village community. My house was burnt to... (GunPolicy.org)
Handicap International Graffiti Contest Promotes Gun Control in Libya
21 November 2011
Tripoli Post (Libya)
The Saturday forecast warned of a rainy November afternoon - a crowd gathered nonetheless at the Tashkil Libya Al-Hurra Brigade in Keesh for one of Benghazi's first ever formal graffiti contests organised by French NGO Handicap International to raise awareness of the dangers posed by small arms and light weapons.
However, for many of the young contestants it was as much an opportunity for personal expression, as it was about tackling one of Libya's most pressing... (GunPolicy.org)
Proliferation of Small Arms in Burkina, New Actors Committed [Francais]
10 November 2011
Sidwaya (Burkina Faso)
[Translated summary: According to the National Commission for the Fight against Proliferation of Small Arms (CNLPAL), around 2 million small arms are circulating in Burkina Faso. Many of these small arms are home-made. During 2008, 248 small arms were seized, including 170 home-made, against 378 seized in 2009, including 249 home-made. In the first quarter of 2010, 140 small arms were seized, including 50 home-made.]
La Commission nationale de lutte contre la... (GunPolicy.org)
North Africa,East Africa,Rwanda
Rwanda Government Steps Up War Against Illegal Small Arms
28 October 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
In a bid to implement the international declarations and protocols that call upon states to adopt measures to fight against the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Rwanda on Wednesday officially launched its National Action Plan (NAP).
The five-year plan will see national focal points formed, mass mobilisation and campaigns conducted and cross-border cooperation reinforced to effectively control and prevent illegal arms trade in the... (GunPolicy.org)
Sudan,Congo (DRC),Djibouti,Central Africa,East Africa,Rwanda
Rwanda to Lead Campaign Against Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons
20 October 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
Rwanda was, on Tuesday, elected to spearhead a regional campaign against illicit small arms and light weapons.
The country was picked by delegates attending a ministerial council meeting of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), a grouping of 15 eastern and central African countries, dedicated to eradicating the proliferation of illegal arms across their borders.
The meeting was held in the Horn of African nation of Djibouti.
Rwanda was elected on the basis of... (GunPolicy.org)
Tanzania,Sudan,Somalia,Seychelles,Kenya,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Djibouti,East Africa,Congo (DRC),Rwanda,Burundi
RECSA Calls for Increased Efforts to Reduce Small Arms in East Africa
16 September 2011
New Times (Rwanda)
The Executive Secretary of the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), Dr. Francis K. Sang, has called upon all countries within the region to come up with more mechanisms and strategies to fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
RECSA is an intergovernmental body based in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together 13 countries from the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa region.
All member states that subscribe to the centre, including Rwanda, are... (GunPolicy.org)
Kenya Gun Control, Firearm Licensing Restrictions, Penalties to Increase
30 August 2011
Nairobi Star (Kenya)
The government is to introduce new laws for acquiring guns. Kenya National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light Weapons Director David Kimaiyo has said the new laws will include stiff penalties for misuse of illegally acquired guns.
Kimaiyo said there had been many cases of misuse of licensed guns but now proper vetting will be done before guns are issued. He said currently the laws dealing with licensed guns did not adequately deal with their abuse.
Kimaiyo who was... (GunPolicy.org)
United States,Norway,United Kingdom,Africa,Afghanistan,Mexico
Gun Trade Inevitably Leads to the Sort of Atrocity Inflicted on Norway
31 July 2011
Independent (UK), Opinion
In discussion of the atrocity in Norway last week, there is one subject which has been notable by the almost total silence about it: guns. In response to recurring massacres in American high schools and British villages, in response to footage from Africa and Afghanistan showing ragged, untrained young men brandishing automatic small arms, in response to a man coolly murdering dozens of youngsters in an hour-and-a-half, funfair-like shooting spree on a Norwegian island,... (GunPolicy.org)
Small Arms Eradication Targeted for Action in Sierra Leone
21 July 2011
Cocorioko.net (Sierre Leone)
A Five Year National Action Plan on Small Arms was today presented at a State House ceremony attended by President Ernest Bai Koroma, Vice President Sam Sumana, Ministers and Development Partners . The Plan covering the period 2011-2015 is the Working Document of the Small Arms Commission which provides a framework detailing interventions, strategies and activities to be undertaken in regulating the manufacture, sale and use of Small Arms and Light weapons (SALW) in... (GunPolicy.org)
Ukraine will Destroy Ammunition and Weapons worth EUR 30 Million
25 June 2011
Interfax.com (Ukraine)
State-run companies that are part of the Ukroboronprom Concern will destroy ammunition and weapons worth EUR 30 million under the Partnership for Peace program.
The ammunition will be scrapped in the execution of an agreement between Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers and the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA).
The government's resolution No 533-r ordering the signing of this agreement dated May 16 was posted on the Ukrainian parliament's Web site on... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Africa,Pakistan,Americas,Europe,Asia
Need to 'Disarm Society to Make it More Secure and Strengthen Pakistan'
22 June 2011
Observer (Pakistan)
ISLAMABAD — "It is not the weapon but the sophistication of weapon which threatens the human beings and makes the militant stronger" commented Brig (R) Muhammad Saad at a seminar on 'Proliferation of Small Arms and their Impact on Internal Security Dynamics' held in Islamabad on Friday.
The speakers called for strict check on proliferation of small arms and prohibition of gun violence by restricting use of arms. Irfan Mufti of SAP-Pakistan suggested that "we should... (GunPolicy.org)
Philippine Government Supports a Strong Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
19 June 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Opinion
Every day around the world, armed violence kills approximately 2,000 people. In the Philippines, reports estimate the casualties at between 16 and 22 each day.
The Philippine Action Network to Control Arms (PhilANCA) is pleased that the Philippines is supporting an Arms Trade Treaty in the United Nations. The treaty aims to diminish and prevent the obscene human cost of the irresponsible trade in arms.
However, we do not need just any Arms Trade Treaty. We need a... (GunPolicy.org)
Papua New Guinea Gun Culture Threatens Security in Run-up to Elections
6 April 2011
IRIN (UN News)
PORT MORESBY - The proliferation and use of illegal guns in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is threatening security ahead of parliamentary elections slated for June 2012, and causing misery and trauma to gun crime victims, says the government.
The police, the PNG Electoral Commission and the Inter Department Election Committee (IDEC), a government body overseeing election preparations, are aware of the risks in the run-up to and during the elections.
"We are very much aware of... (GunPolicy.org)
5000 Indians Die Each Year Due to Unregulated Global Gun Trade
12 March 2011
Kangla Online / Imphal Free Press (Manipur)
NEW DELHI - Each year worldwide, 500,000 people are killed directly with conventional weapons and many more are injured, abused, forcibly displaced and bereaved as a result of armed violence. And 5000 Indians are killed every year due to unregulated arms trade.
The movement of arms across the world is a huge threat to human security. 1,135 companies in 98 countries manufacture arms, ammunitions and components worldwide. Yet the global trade that fuels the epidemic of... (GunPolicy.org)
Trinidad & Tobago PM Promotes Caribbean Commitment to Eradicate Guns
25 February 2011
Antigua Observer
ST.GEORGE'S, Grenada – Trinidad and Tobago wants the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to adopt a declaration on the eradication of small arms in the region.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar told reporters that the proliferation of small arms throughout the region is a major concern especially in the efforts to dealing with criminal activities.
"I intend to seek approval from the heads for a declaration with respect to the small arms treaty," she said, adding... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Trade Treaty Needed to Mesh with Domestic Caribbean Gun Laws
1 February 2011
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
Despite the regulatory provisions of the Firearms and Customs Acts, there is evidence that domestic legislation has proven insufficient to combat the illegal arms trade. Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan yesterday said while domestic legislation was necessary there was greater need to collaborate with international partners to combat the proliferation of illegal firearms. Rambachan was speaking at the opening ceremony of the second regional workshop on... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Trade Treaty to Control Guns, Rein in Trigger Happy Rogue Regimes
29 January 2011
Inter Press Service News Agency
PARIS - A half a century after U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower named and denounced the military-industrial complex's ever-increasing influence on world affairs, the arms trade thrives more than ever, with African states frequently being the destination.
Although figures are hard to come by, the development advocacy group Oxfam estimates that, every year, sub-Saharan African governments spend around 18 billion dollars on weapons and defence, roughly the same amount as... (GunPolicy.org)
Arms Treaty Campaigners Seize on 'Merchant of Death' Gun Running Case
28 January 2011
Inter Press Service News Agency
When Andrew Niccol wrote and directed the feature film "Lord of War", the story was partly inspired by the life of Viktor Bout, a Russian businessman suspected of using his air cargo company as a cover for arms dealing.
While he succeeded in trading arms all over the planet – and especially in war-torn nations like Sierra Leone and Liberia - for two decades without technically breaking any international laws, Bout was finally arrested in 2008 in Thailand, as part of... (GunPolicy.org)
Venezuela,United States,Central America,Norway,Colombia,South America,West Asia,Sweden
Support for Arms Trade Treaty Grows as Norway, Sweden Fund SIPRI
26 January 2011
United Press International
WASHINGTON - Support for international efforts to secure an effective arms trade treaty has received boost with new European funds going into the work of leading think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Frenetic arms buying in Latin America in 2009 and last year led to diplomatic initiatives, including several from the Obama administration, to control a trend that critics said could turn into an arms race.
The arms buying was fueled partly by... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,Africa
Globalisation and the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons
15 January 2011
Eurasia Review
In June 2010, the representatives of all United Nations (UN) Member States came together at the Biennial Meeting of States in New York to consider the implementation of the 2001 Programme of Action (POA) on the illicit trade in small arms. The program was initiated in July 2001 to keep a check on the ever-growing illicit trade on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and to help countries, combat this pernicious problem. While the forum has worked continuously for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Catholic Church Firmly, Quietly, Globally Opposes Firearms for Civilians
14 January 2011
Catholic News Service (Washington DC)
VATICAN CITY - The Catholic Church's position on gun control is not easy to find; there are dozens of speeches and talks and a few documents that call for much tighter regulation of the global arms trade, but what about private gun ownership?
The answer is resoundingly clear: Firearms in the hands of civilians should be strictly limited and eventually completely eliminated.
But you won't find that statement in a headline or a document subheading. It's almost hidden in... (GunPolicy.org)
German Police Finally Raid Heckler & Koch for Illegal Gun Exports to Mexico
3 January 2011
Deutsche Welle
Police recently searched the offices of German arms company Heckler & Koch in connection with allegedly illegal weapon exports to Mexico used in the drugs war. One manager involved in the deal has already resigned.
The scandal currently embroiling Germany's biggest small arms manufacturer is becoming more and more difficult to contain. Heckler & Koch (H&K) stands accused of illegally exporting handguns and automatic rifles to embargoed regions of Mexico in the grip of... (GunPolicy.org)
German Police Raid Heckler & Koch, Probe Illegal Gun Exports to Mexico
22 December 2010
SIFY News (India)
STUTTGART, Germany - German police searched the offices of Heckler and Koch, a German manufacturer of premium firearms, Tuesday over suspicions that its exports of rifles to Mexico may break German arms-export laws, prosecutors in Stuttgart said.
German law forbids unlicensed exports to zones of conflict.
A spokeswoman said Heckler and Koch, which supplies armies, police forces and hunters worldwide with high-powered rifles and small arms, was suspected of breaching... (GunPolicy.org)
80,000 Illegal Guns Estimated in Ghana, Most of Them Home Made
9 December 2010
Ghana News Agency
ACCRA - Mrs Trudy Kernighan, Canadian High Commissioner, on Thursday said it was important for Ghana to raise public awareness and inform the citizens about the effects of the misuse of small arms to enhance stability and security.
She said the misuse of small arms fuelled conflicts contributed to violent crimes and hampered humanitarian assistance, peace building and sustainable development.
Mrs Kernighan said this at the launch of a five-year strategic plan to... (GunPolicy.org)
Oceania,Europe,Asia,Americas,United States,Africa
Towards a Bullet-proof Arms Trade Treaty - Amnesty International
19 November 2010
Disarmament Times (USA), Opinion
The poorly regulated global trade in conventional arms and ammunition has an enormous human cost.(1)
One hundred twenty-eight armed conflicts since 1989 have resulted in at least 250,000 deaths each year. Serious injuries are even more numerous. Ratios of reported battlefield injuries to deaths vary from 2 to 28 injuries for every death.
Twenty-six million people worldwide had been displaced as a result of armed conflict at the end of 2008. The top six countries of... (GunPolicy.org)
Wendy Cukier Named 'Transformational Canadian' for Gun Control Work
19 October 2010
Globe & Mail (Toronto)
Wendy Cukier, long-time activist, has been selected as one of 25 Transformational Canadians.
Wendy Cukier teaches at a business school, so she understands economic imperatives – and the importance of innovation and prosperity. But for the associate dean of Ryerson University's Ted Rogers School of Management, what matters most is preserving core Canadian values around safety, equity and respect for human rights.
"I firmly believe that one of the things that will... (GunPolicy.org)
Global Gun Trade Treaty Vital, Says Trinidad & Tobago Foreign Minister
10 October 2010
Guardian (Trinidad and Tobago)
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan says T&T is being encouraged by the United Nations to conclude a legally binding agreement to regulate the gun trade. Rambachan yesterday spoke about the regulations while addressing the United Nations Association of T&T (UNATT) which held its annual general meeting at The Normandie, St Ann's.
Rambachan said T&T also called for a strong and effective implementation regime to ensure compliance with the provision of the... (GunPolicy.org)
Pledge at UN Shows Nepal's Commitment to Slowing the Illicit Gun Trade
8 October 2010
Himalayan Times (Kathmandu)
KATHMANDU - Nepal has shown its commitment to prevent illicit trade of small arms, light weapons and their use. The commitment was put forth in a session of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
"We fully support the effective implementation of the programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons," said Gyan Chandra Acharya, permanent representative to the UN, at the first committee meeting of UNGA in New... (GunPolicy.org)
Turkey Moves to Loosen Gun Laws, Lower Age for Firearm Ownership
8 October 2010
Hürriyet Daily News (Istanbul)
Noting that the 'only purpose of a gun is to kill,' Nazire Dedeman, head of the Umut Foundation, an NGO working for individual disarmament, says she cannot understand how Turkish parliamentarians are planning to liberalize the country's gun laws. Laws allowing people as young as 18 to own up to five guns is entirely irresponsible, Dedeman says.
A prospective Turkish bill that would lower the minimum age for firearms possession to 18 and make owning a gun easier is... (GunPolicy.org)
1,500 Locally Made Guns Destroyed in Latest Ghana Disarmament Push
2 October 2010
Ghana News Agency
The Ghana National Commission on Small Arms on Friday destroyed 1,500 pieces of locally produced fire arms seized from people who possessed them illegally in various parts of the country.
The seizure was as a result of a six-week joint exercise organised by the commission and the security agencies as part of efforts to rid the country of illicit firearms and ammunition.
This brings to 3,387 the number of illicit small arms destroyed by the commission in the country... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Urged to Take Decisive Action, Curb Gun Trafficking in Nigeria, Africa
12 August 2010
Vanguard (Lagos)
OWERRI, Nigeria — The President of Youths Enhancement Organization,(YEO), Ambassador Obinna Egbuka, has appealed to the United Nations to take decisive action to end what he termed "the irresponsible trade in conventional weapons across the globe".
Obinna, who spoke in Owerri, ahead of this year's World Youths Day, said the appeal became expedient now as Nigeria grapples with increasing cases of kidnapping and armed robbery.
He argued "that trade in conventional... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Destroy Another 1500 Confiscated Small Arms in Tanzania
9 August 2010
Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
The Police Force in Mwanza Region has destroyed 1500 illegal small arms confiscated during raids on criminals.
The destruction of the arms over the weekend was sponsored by the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA) in collaboration with the Japanese government.
Speaking during the destruction, the RECSA executive secretary, Dr Francis Sang, said the destruction demonstrates the seriousness with which Tanzania takes the implementation of the Nairobi... (GunPolicy.org)
Small Arms Trafficking Continues to Decrease Stability in Central Africa
29 July 2010
Voice of America
Trafficking in small arms and light weapons is on the rise in parts of Central Africa, say regional sources from the International Action Network against Light Weapons. Members of the group say this proliferation poses an increased threat to stability in the area.
Regional experts who work to combat arms trafficking recently met in Gabon to discuss the increasing threat posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Central Africa.
Based in Central... (GunPolicy.org)
Amnesty International Report Claims Kenya Abets Regional Gun Running
21 July 2010
Standard (Nairobi)
Kenya is one of the countries that have failed to control movement of weapons, which end up being used to commit war crimes.
A new report by Amnesty International shows how countries fail to control trafficking of deadly arms globally, leading to serious human rights violation.
The report exposed how transport companies registered in five countries ship arms by sea and air around the world.
The report, Deadly Movements: Arms Transportation Controls in the Arms Trade... (GunPolicy.org)
Gun Control Groups Disagree, Gun Lobby Fights Tighter German Gun Law
21 July 2010
Deutsche Welle
A school shooting spree last year in Winnenden in which a teenager killed 15 people has prompted a German anti-weapons group to lodge a complaint with the country's constitutional court.
The initiative "No murder weapons as sports weapons" has lodged a constitutional complaint with the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe. Germany's weapons law, the group says, is unconstitutional and does not provide enough protection from killing sprees.
The group argues that... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Five Parmanent Members Accused of Facilitating Illegal Arms Transfer
19 July 2010
Inter Press Service News Agency
UNITED NATIONS - The five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - are accused of facilitating the transport of conventional weapons and cluster munitions to countries where they could be used to commit human rights violations and war crimes.
The pointed accusations come from the London-based Amnesty International (AI) which singles out recent arms shipments by transport companies and airlines registered in the... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Begins Work on Treaty to Regulate the Expanding Global Arms Trade
13 July 2010
Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations began negotiations on a legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade to help prevent the illegal transfer of guns that kill and injure thousands of people every day.
The General Assembly first voted in December 2006 to work toward a treaty regulating the growing, multibillion dollar arms trade. Last December, the 192-member world body decided to hold a four-week U.N. conference in 2012 to draft an arms trade... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Arms Trade Treaty Targets Guns, Planes, Tanks, Warships, Ammunition
12 July 2010
Voice of America
Formal negotiations began Monday on a new international treaty to control the trade of conventional weapons. More than 190 nations are taking part at U.N. headquarters in New York.
Supporters of the treaty say it would save thousands of lives every year. The Control Arms Campaign, a coalition of civil society groups, says 128 armed conflicts since 1989 have claimed about 250,000 deaths each year.
The campaign says since 2006, the "vast majority of governments in... (GunPolicy.org)
Armed Violence Feared Rising in China Despite Strict Gun Control Laws
23 June 2010
Inter Press Service News Agency
BEIJING - China and guns have a long history.
The country invented gun power and developed one of the world's first guns, known as the "fire spear." Rifles played a major role in China's modern history, from the fight against the Japanese army to the Communist's victory over the Nationalists. In 1938, Mao Zedong famously said that "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
That comment perhaps foreshadowed the gun control laws later implemented by Mao and the... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Gun Grabber: Global Arms Treaty Threatens US Right to Self Defence
27 May 2010
Washington Times, Editorial
American gun owners might not feel besieged, but they should. This week, the Obama administration announced its support for the United Nations Small Arms Treaty. This international agreement poses real risks for freedom both in the United States and around the world by making it more difficult - if not outright illegal - for law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
The U.N. claims that guns used in armed conflicts cause 300,000 deaths worldwide every year, an... (GunPolicy.org)
World Pro Footballers Campaign for Permanent Gun Ban In South Africa
23 May 2010
Independent (UK)
Premier League footballers have launched a campaign to banish guns from South Africa during the World Cup – and for the future.
For the first time in the country's history, personal firearms will be banned from stadiums during the tournament. But, when the contest finishes on 11 July, guns will once again be allowed in all public places.
Every year in South Africa, some 10,000 people are killed with guns. Those who have fallen victim to the country's lax gun laws... (GunPolicy.org)
Ghana Becoming Fertile Grounds For Arms Proliferation
15 May 2010
Daily Mail (Accra) / GNA
TAMALE - The West Africa Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA-Ghana) has warned that the country was increasingly becoming fertile grounds for the proliferations of small and light weapons, which if not checked, could create insecurity.
Mr. Francis Ameyibor, National Treasurer of WAANSA said this was manifest in the several conflicts being experienced in some parts of the country especially the northern parts.
Mr Ameyibor made this known in Tamale on Friday at a press... (GunPolicy.org)
Sierra Leone Civil Society Groups Promote Global Gun Trade Treaty
14 May 2010
Awoko (Freetown)
The Sierra Leone Action Network on Small Arms (SLANSA) has urged the government of Sierra Leone to support the UN Firearms Protocol meeting in New York on June 18 this year.
SLANSA Coordinator Florella Hazeley told reporters yesterday that the protocol is the only binding global agreement on firearms which are too easily smuggled across national borders.
She added "we urge the government to review and harmonize laws on firearms and domestic violence and domestic... (GunPolicy.org)
Guinea-Bissau,Guinea,Gambia,West Africa,Senegal
West African NGO Launches Action Against Armed Violence in Senegal
12 May 2010
Afrique en ligne
DAKAR, Senegal - The Movement against Light Weapons in West Africa (MALA0), in partnership with civil society organizations, among them Présence chrétienne and SOS Equilibre, on Monday in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, launched a week-long action against armed violence.
The 10-16 May initiative, launched for the first time in 2001, aims at stopping the proliferation and the excessive use of small arms in the world.
The initiative will also sensitize and campaign for... (GunPolicy.org)
Civil Society Groups Urge India to Support Global Gun Trade Treaty
10 May 2010
City News (Pakistan) / NNI
Each year around the world, 500,000 people are killed directly with conventional weapons and many more are injured, abused, forcibly displaced and bereaved as a result of armed violence.
An Indian Civil Society urging for an International Arms Trade Treaty to stop the inflow of illegal small arms and light weapons in India said: "Around 58,000 Indians died due to armed violence in the last 15 years. The highest casualties have been reported from India's Northeast... (GunPolicy.org)
UN Secretary General Exhorts Central Africans to Combat Gun Runners
30 April 2010
UN News Centre (New York)
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today exhorted ministers from Central African nations to work towards adopting a legal instrument to combat illicit arms trafficking, a move that will help reduce violence and bring peace and security to countries in the sub-region.
"The link between arms trafficking and other illicit activities is increasingly undeniable," said Mr. Ban. "Yet Central Africa remains one of the few African sub-regions without a legally binding instrument to... (GunPolicy.org)
Africa,Central Africa,East Africa
Thirteen African States Strengthen Gun Control, Disarmament Guidelines
17 April 2010
Standard (Nairobi)
Proliferation of guns and other light weapons has become a serious security threat.
Efforts by Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia to disarm pastoralists have failed to bear fruits and the arms trade and cattle rustling continue to thrive.
However, the Regional Centre On Small Arms (Recsa) plans to develop a common disarmament guideline for its 13 member States, including Kenya.
Recsa Executive Secretary Francis Sang says poor co-ordination and disorganised disarmament... (GunPolicy.org)
Footballers Sport Shirts, Campaign to Keep Guns Out of World Soccer Cup
31 March 2010
Caledonian Mercury (Scotland)
A leading fashion designer has teamed up with football stars in a campaign to keep the World Cup in South Africa gun-free.
The move comes after three people died when Togo's team bus came under machine-gun fire while on its way to the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Katharine Hamnett has designed a T-shirt with the slogan, Don't Shoot. Among the players to wear it is the Hibernian defender Sol Bamba, who was a member of the Ivory Coast team which also... (GunPolicy.org)
Drive to Seize Another 50,000 Illegal Guns in Kenya Amid Talk of 'Abuse'
24 March 2010
Daily Nation (Nairobi)
NAIROBI — Kenya's pastoralists have spent Sh1.1 billion to arm themselves over the years, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The figure is tallied from the number of firearms confiscated from them during the recent disarmament.
The guns are used for cattle rustling in which many people are killed and livestock stolen.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia said this while the minister, Prof George Saitoti, pledged to have a law enacted, with stiffer... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama Could, Should Do More to Curb the Destructive Spread of Guns
10 March 2010
Center for American Progress (USA), Report
The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is an immediate security challenge to individuals, societies, and states around the world and an enormous hurdle to sustainable security and development. Small arms fuel civil wars, organized criminal violence, and terrorist activities. They also undermine multimillion dollar development programs and other assistance to fragile states. Fragile and failing states should be of particular strategic interest to the United... (GunPolicy.org)
Obama, Clinton Join UN Treaty Push to Set Global Gun Trade Controls
18 February 2010
Defense News (USA)
The United States is working with other countries and the United Nations to impose uniform controls on international sales of conventional arms. But the U.S. State Department said it is likely to be years before an Arms Trade Treaty takes effect.
The United States is committed to pursuing a "robust treaty" that sets "the highest possible legally binding standards" for international sales of conventional weapons, U.S. Ambassador Donald Mahley said Feb. 18 in an address... (GunPolicy.org)
Congressman Opposes Flood of US-purchased AK-47s for American Wars
9 February 2010
Star-Gazette (New York)
U.S. Rep. Eric Massa said Tuesday he has additional concerns about the use of taxpayer money to buy foreign-made weapons.
During his weekly teleconference with media from Washington, D.C., Massa, D-Corning, said the United States over the past six years has become the largest purchaser of Russian and Chinese small-arms exports to equip Iraqi and Afghan forces.
"To spend these amounts of monies on Kalashnikov rifles and Chinese small arms, not to mention major... (GunPolicy.org)
Côte d'Ivoire Begins 'Election Without Gun Violence' Campaign [Francais]
15 January 2010
Le Patriote (Abidjan)
[Translated summary: 'Elections without Gun Violence' was launched in Abidjan at the National Commission on small arms, by Michele Pepe, president of the Cote d’Ivoire Action Network on Small Arms (RASALAO), an IANSA affiliate.]
Les élections, on le sait, sont généralement sources de passion et de tension en Afrique. La Côte d’Ivoire, qui se prépare, pour l’élection présidentielle, n’échappe pas à la règle.
C’est donc en connaissance de cause, que... (GunPolicy.org)
Police Destroy Another 80,611 Guns in South African Firearm Amnesty
15 January 2010
South African Press Association
JOHANNESBURG - Gun control campaigners welcomed the destruction of 80 611 guns by the SA Police Service on Friday.
The weapons thrown into the furnace included guns recovered through the ongoing nationwide firearm amnesty, as well as obsolete police weapons and guns previously recovered by police from crime scenes.
IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) Africa said the destruction sent a positive signal to South Africans that the firearms amnesty would... (GunPolicy.org)
Oxfam Chief Calls for Global Gun Trade Treaty to Protect Human Rights
10 December 2009
Reuters AlertNet, Opinion
Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland, is Honorary President of Oxfam International and heads the Ethical Globalisation Initiative. On the 55th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, she calls for the creation of a new treaty to control the global trade in small arms.
On this 55th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, threats of new terrorist attacks and the dangers of... (GunPolicy.org)
Rethink India's Decision to Abstain from UN Global Gun Trade Treaty Vote
13 November 2009
Times of India, Editorial
The past few weeks have seen a somewhat contradictory message emerging from New Delhi on the issue of arms trafficking. On the one hand, home secretary G K Pillai has stated Indian concerns about Maoists being supplied arms from China, albeit by private Chinese players rather than by Beijing. On the other, when the UN committee on disarmament and peace voted on a resolution last month calling for talks on a treaty to regulate the global conventional arms trade, India... (GunPolicy.org)
West African Journalists Commend 9 Countries for Tackling Gun Control
12 November 2009
Ghana News Agency
ACCRA — The West Africa Network of Journalists for Security and Development (WANJSD) on Wednesday commended the "Group of Nine ECOWAS Countries," for ratifying the Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), their ammunition and other related materials.
Mr Francis Ameyibor, WANJSD Deputy General Secretary, stated in an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra that considering the proliferation of SALW constituted a major destabilizing factor in West Africa,... (GunPolicy.org)
Gambia,West Africa,United Nations
West Africa, 153 UN Member States Promote Global Gun Trade Treaty
9 November 2009
Daily Observer (Banjul)
Every year, millions around the world suffer as a result of the non-regulation of the global arms trade.
This year, on 30th October, 2009 at the United Nations, after years of discussions and debates, the vast majority of governments — 153 in total — agreed on a timetable to establish a"strong and robust Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with the highest common standards to control international transfers of conventional arms, a press release from WANEP-Gambia stated. There... (GunPolicy.org)
Guns Seized in Bangladesh 'Just Come Back' if Not Destroyed: Minister
9 November 2009
New Nation (Dhaka) / BSS
DHAKA — Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Sunday strongly suggested destroying all illegal arms for ensuring security and peace in the country.
The Finance Minister said this while inaugurating a two-day regional seminar on small arms control in the city.
He criticised candidly the practice of keeping all illegal arms and ammunition intact after capturing those from smugglers, illigaly arms traders and miscreants.
"We see illegal arms and ammunition are... (GunPolicy.org)
