International Action Network on Small Arms

Here is an international organization which is doing considerable work against the proliferation of Small Arms....
As there are two threads already discussing the topic, here is one dedicated to what is being achieved and an over view of the kind of challenges being faced by the Protected content organisations associated with IANSA.

IANSA Update 09.01.09

* South Africa: Calls for gun-free Protected content Cup after shooting
* Gaza: UN calls for truce and end to arms smuggling
* Bolivia gets its first gun law
* UN: ATT resolution approved overwhelmingly
* Sri Lanka: Outspoken journalist shot dead
* Brazil: Buyback had significant effect on gun violence
* Zimbabwe: Abducted NGO director found in police custody
* Other news: Lessons learned about DDR; Jobs in SE Europe and Omega
(UK)

IANSA members in South Africa are calling for a gun-free soccer World
Cup in Protected content the shooting of a prominent member of the
tournament's organizing committee. Jimmy Mohlala was gunned down in
front of his son on Sunday 4 January. The incident has re-ignited
warnings from critics who fear that the World Cup will be blighted by
security problems. Despite strengthened gun laws and dramatic reductions
in gun violence in some cities, South Africa has the fourth highest gun
homicide rate in the world. IANSA is calling for all stadiums to be
declared firearm-free zones, and an immediate moratorium on carrying
guns in public and issuing of gun licences until August Protected content .
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An estimated Protected content and 14 Israelis have been killed in the
conflict in the Gaza Strip. A UN Security Council resolution has
demanded a ceasefire, access for aid workers and an end to arms
smuggling. 14 out of 15 countries voted for the UK-drafted resolution,
with the United States abstaining. According to SIPRI, 94% of major
conventional weapons imported by Israel during Protected content from the
US. Amnesty International said engines for a pilotless military airplane
used for air strikes may be of UK origin. Media reports say Hamas
smuggles most of its small arms through tunnels from Egypt. Many of the
Soviet-style machine guns used by Hamas may be captured from Fatah or
the Palestinian National Authority. The rockets are mostly home-crafted.
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Bolivia's first-ever national gun law has passed the Lower House of
Congress and now goes to the Senate. The law will regulate the import,
export, transfer, manufacture, transport, sale, ownership, carrying,
storage and destruction of guns and ammunition. Negotiations on the law
have been paralysed for 10 years by a dispute between the army and
police over jurisdiction. IANSA member CEJIP, which has worked hard to
bring the law forward, said it is the first step toward a safer society.
CEJIP will hold a conference on the law next month.
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133 states voted in favour of an Open-Ended Working Group on the Arms
Trade Treaty, at the UN General Assembly on 24 December Protected content . Only the
United States voted against. Zimbabwe, which voted No during the First
Committee discussions in October, voted in favour this time. There were
19 abstentions, including China, Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan and
Russia. Many states were absent due to delays in the voting process and
the proximity to the Christmas holidays. The omnibus resolution setting
the schedule of UN small arms meetings for the next 6 years was approved
181 to 1, with the US voting against.
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Lasantha Wickrematunge, one of Sri Lanka's leading journalists, has been
shot dead in Colombo. The newspaper editor was assassinated three days
after the MTV television station was bombed and razed by an armed group.
The National Peace Council condemned the assassination: "The killing of
this courageous journalist will add to the sense of intimidation and
fear in the media, which has already suffered several such attacks and
killings of its personnel."
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Brazil's national gun buyback campaign from July Protected content October Protected content
had a significant impact on firearm violence in the state and city of
Rio de Janeiro, according to new a study from the Small Arms Survey,
Viva Rio and ISER. The campaign particularly affected interpersonal
conflicts and firearm homicides caused by trivial reasons, such as
alcohol or traffic-related incidents. The study concludes that buybacks
are only effective as part of a broader small arms control strategy; in
this case the implementation of the comprehensive Disarmament Statute
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RIO_SR9.pdf

The Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, Jestina Mukoko, has been
located in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, Harare. IANSA reported
that Ms Mukoko had been abducted from home on 3 December by armed men.
Lawyers have not been able to conduct a formal interview with Ms Mukoko,
but she told them she had been beaten in custody. x