New report on small arms by the UN Secretary-General

The UN Secretary-General, has submitted the second report on small arms, to facilitate the work of the Security Council on small arms and support the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA). This report gives special attention to the trade in ammunition, problems connected with storage and the importance of tracing ammunition found in conflict settings. It also includes observations and recommendations on trade and brokering, marking, record-keeping and tracing of weapons, stockpile management, armed violence and the use and misuse of small arms.

Small Arms Survey paper on trade in surplus ammunition

The Small Arms Survey has published the paper “Scraping the Barrel: The Trade in Surplus Ammunition” on the international trade in surplus ammunition. It includes detailed case studies of transfers of ammunition within conflict zones in West Africa and the Great Lakes region.

http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/SAS-IB2-Scraping-the-barrel.pdf

Gunpolicy website

Gunpolicy.org has launched a new tool on their website for comparing gun facts and policies. This is a contribution to measuring the impact and implementation of the UN Programme of Action on small arms (UNPoA). www.gunpolicy.org

Sierra Leone Child Soldiers “Out of the bush”

It's been nine years since 2002, when one of the most brutal and bloody wars with an army of child soldiers ended. Is Sierra Leone really peaceful today? The writer interviews 70 former combatants including girls (mostly child soldiers) to let them talk about their war experiences of child soldiers and their post-conflict reintegration in society. While disarmament was successful, demobilisation and, especially, reintegration programmes had a number of flaws - skills training mostly lasted only a few months and the reintegration period too was short-lived. Nonetheless, it is remarkable that Sierra Leone, did not slip back into conflict.

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/05/3963

Religions for Peace Briefs UN Security Council
on Somalia

Somalia has been suffering from an on-going civil war for 20 years. Current drought is worsening the situation for millions of people. The United Nations has been trying to resolve the conflict through Transitional Federal Government (TFG), but its transitional period is coming to an end in Autumn 2011 with no resolution in sight. The African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ACRL— RfP) has facilitated together with some of its partners a process for Somali religious and traditional leaders to share their observations and recommendations on the peace process with the international community.

Southern Sudan - Launch of two new sub-national action networks

Two new sub-national action networks on small arms have been launched in the Southern Sudanese states of Warrap and Central Equatoria under the Southern Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA). The networks were launched during two civil society consultations on the small arms problem in Warrap (Central Equatoria). The high level of insecurity matches the inflow of arms. Since the origin of the threats is domestic, domestic efforts to address the small arms problem are needed.

http://www.ssansa.wordpress.com/

Statement on draft arms trade law in France

Amnesty International France, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and Oxfam France have released a statement on a recently proposed draft law on the import and export of conventional arms. The statement calls for French laws to to respect export criteria as stated in the EU common position on the control of arms. Read the statement in French: http://www.amnesty.fr/2342

Mali - National project for 'Schools without arms'

The National Commission on Small Arms launched the new national project 'For a School without Arms' at a public conference in Mali. The project was developed in cooperation with several Ministries, the Association of Pupils and Students in Mali (EMEA) and civil society organisations, including IANSA members Réseau des Journalistes pour la Sécurité et le Développement en Afrique de l’Ouest (RJSDAO) and the West African Action Network on Small Arms - Mali. The objective of the project is to raise awareness amongst school administrators, students and parents, about the dangers related to the presence of guns in schools and universities, and create an environment in schools that is secure and conducive to studies.

In French: http://www.primature.gov.ml/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6529:ecole-projet-et-alliance-contre-la-violence&catid=12

DR Congo - Seminar on the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign

On 28-31 March in DR Congo, UN Women initiated consultations in North and South Kivu on women's contribution to the development of national policies. As part of this, IANSA member Femmes des Médias pour la Justice au Congo (FMJC) organised a seminar to raise awareness about armed violence in the home and the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign. Participants included delegates from national and international NGOs, and provincial authorities including a representative of the Ministry of Gender.