Philippines recognises importance of women for gun control
Brazil: Firearms control saves 13,000 lives
Southern Africa: Police chiefs will be involved in the Global Week of Action
Pakistan: Guns used in honour killings
Argentina: Update on national disarmament network

Other news: Churches against corruption in Sweden & South Africa; Women, Peace & Security in non-war zones; Military cooperation between Israel & Latin America; Photo-essay on US gun show; Job at FIIAPP.

The Philippines National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security was officially launched on 25 March at Miriam College in Manila. It is not only the first Action Plan to be adopted by an Asian country but also the first ever to include commitments on reducing gun violence against women. IANSA Women were closely involved in developing the Action Plan. More

Policies to reduce gun violence led to saved 13,000 lives in Sao Paulo State (Brazil) between 2001 and 2007, according to a new study ‘Less Guns, Less Crimes’. The policies include the stronger national Disarmament Statute which came into force in 2003. It also shows that a life was saved for every 18 weapons seized. The study was conducted by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) and PUC-Rio. More.

Southern African police chiefs gathered in Johannesburg on 25-26 March to plan their activities for the year. Participants agreed to celebrate International Gun Destruction Day (9 July). Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) members will also coordinate public events during the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, 10-16 May.

647 Pakistani women were killed in the name of ‘honour’ in 2009 revealed a report by the autonomous Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Firearms were used in 48% of such incidents. Women’s rights organisations say that last year saw a sharp rise in violence against women but that real numbers are not known since the majority of cases are never reported. More

The Argentinean Disarmament Network held its general assembly on 22 March in Buenos Aires. Member organisations assessed their latest campaigns, including the Gun-Free Cities programme. They met the National Arms Registry Director and planned a strategy to encourage Argentinean provincial governments who are not yet registering seized weapons to comply with this requirement. They also gave inputs on the report that the government will submit before the UN Biennial Meeting of States on small arms, 14-18 June.

Other news:

The Councils of Churches in South Africa and Sweden are urging their governments to initiate an independent judicial inquiry into the allegations of corruption which have been made in connection with a large military transfer between these two countries in 1999. Of 28 fighter aircraft sold by Sweden, only 7 have been delivered to South Africa. More

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) has been commonly interpreted as referring exclusively to women, peace & security in war and post-war zones. The article 'UNSCR 1325: Is it only about war?’ examines the scope and foundations of the Resolution, linking it with non-war contexts. The article was written by IANSA women Rita Santos, Tatiana Moura and Sílvia Roque of the Peace Studies Research Group/CES-FEUC (Portugal). More

As military cooperation between Israel and Latin America grows, stricter arms export controls would help prevent Israeli weapons falling into the hands of armed groups and criminals. This is the argument of a new article in the winter issue of PIR Centre’s Security Index. The PIR Centre have also launched a new ATT website in Russian and English.

Significant improvements in the operation of the largest gun show in Arizona State (US) are described in new photo-essay by the Violence Prevention Research Programme at the University of California in Davis. Undocumented private party gun sales at this gun show have declined. This can be partially explained by the law enforcement activities by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms aimed at preventing cross-border trafficking in firearms. More

The International and Latin American Foundation for Management and Public Policy (FIIAPP) is recruiting a senior expert on arms trafficking. IANSA Jobs

Please send your news and stories for the Update to adriana.medina@iansa.org