Gambia — Gun Facts, Figures and the LawStockpilesGun NumbersCivilian GunsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Number of Privately Owned FirearmsRate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 PopulationNumber of Privately Owned Firearms - World RankingIn a 2017 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gambia ranked at No. 1291 Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World RankingIn a 2017 comparison of the rate of privately owned guns in 206 countries, Gambia ranked at No.961 Government GunsBlue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.ImpactsDeath and InjuryHomicides (any method)Blue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Suicides (any method)Blue-superscript reference numbers which link to sources covering multiple years are only displayed beside the most recent year. Figures without a hyperlink can be found in the next reference above.Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Suicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Suicide Victims (any method)ProductionGun IndustryRegulation of Firearm MakersIn Gambia, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is prohibited11 Home-made GunsIn Gambia, the prevalence of illicit craft, or 'home-made' firearm manufacture is reported to be low12 TransfersGun Trade and TraffickingSmuggling Guns and AmmunitionReports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Gambia is moderate17 MeasuresGun RegulationFirearm LawGuiding gun control legislation in Gambia includes the Arms and Ammunition Act 14 of 192418 Firearm RegistrationGun Dealer Record KeepingIn Gambia, licensed firearm dealers are required16 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority State-Owned Firearm RecordsIn Gambia, State agencies are required23 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control Storage and Transport of Guns and AmmunitionFirearm and Ammunition Transport RegulationsRegulations in Gambia include16 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit Carrying GunsCarrying Guns Openly in PublicIn Gambia, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is prohibited24 MeasuresInternational ControlsRegional AgreementsAfrican UnionEconomic Community of West African StatesIn June 2006, as a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gambia adopted the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other Related Materials. This stipulates strict controls on the transfer, manufacture, possession and security of small arms and light weapons29 Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and DevelopmentThe Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was not signed30 by Gambia. Arms Trade TreatyThe Arms Trade Treaty has not been signed31 by Gambia United Nations Firearms ProtocolThe United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed32 by Gambia United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoAUNPoA CommitmentOn 21 July 2001, Gambia committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects33 UNPoA Implementation Monitor ScoreUNPoA National ReportingUNPoA National Point of ContactIn Gambia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated39 UNPoA National Coordinating BodyIn Gambia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated40 UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and SupportIn National Reports of Gambia submitted to the UN from 2001 to 2010, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities was apparent39 UNPoA International Assistance – DonorFunds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated39 by Gambia to other UN Member States United Nations Small Arms RegisterAccording to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Gambia has not declared41 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports. United Nations MembershipIn the UN List of Member States, Gambia has been a Member State of the United Nations since 196542 Wassenaar ArrangementThe Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list43 Gambia as a Participating State BackgroundSustainable Development Goal ProfileAbout SDG 16The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part.
SDG 16,44 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2).
In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing. Homicides (any method)Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Female Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Conflict DeathsFor a profile of conflict in Gambia, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University DisarmamentAuthorities in Gambia are not known to have45 implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation Global Peace IndexTo see where Gambia ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index, and then click on Gambia on the map or in the "Select Country" menu on the right of the web page |
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