The BMS is the major event on the small arms calendar this year. Governments will send their representatives to the UN in New York to deliver their progress reports on the implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA). This is also a chance for governments and civil society to share information, exchange ideas and make plans for the next two years.

The BMS creates a lot of opportunities for IANSA members, whether in New York or around the world. Civil society can make significant contributions to each country’s national progress report, as well as raising local media awareness.

IANSA is the official coordinator of civil society involvement in the BMS. We will help to develop policy positions, information, media contacts and other resources to maximise the effectiveness of our members’ participation in this important event. The main themes for this year's BMS are:

1) The International Tracing Instrument.
2) Illicit brokering.
3) Stockpile management and surplus destruction/disposal.

4) International cooperation, assistance and capacity building.

The IANSA Women's Network will be at the BMS and will talk to States about domestic violence and firearms possession, to increase awareness of laws and policies that separate perpetrators from guns.

IANSA women will also develop a Clothesline Exhibition - a visual display of clothing with messages or illustrations that represent women affected by gun violence. The clothes will form a mobile exhibition as testimony to the problem of gun violence against women.

For further information, visit the UN conference webpage at: http://disarmament.un.org/cab/bms3/1thirdBMS.html

Other News - July-August 2008

Liberia: Women fighting for peace
Amnesty International
1 August 2008

International: Women at Work: Preventing Gun Violence
IANSA Women’s Network Bulletin #15, July 2008

Pakistan: Cases of armed violence against women
Blue Veins
22 July 2008

Uganda: "Today you will understand" Women of Northern Uganda speak out
IRIN
20 July 2008

East Africa: Feminist Leadership and Movement Building Advocacy Institute
CREA
18 July 2008

Liberia: The UN Security Council Resolution on Rape and Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict: Creating New Avenues for Action
Liberians United to Expose Hidden Weapons
15 July 2008

Trinidad: Website launch for Women's Institute for Alternative Development
WINAD
13 July 2008

RDC: Mini rapport sur la violence armee a l'egard de la femme a Kinshasa
Association Femme Action Developpement (AFAD)
3 July 2008

International: Rape in War: Will the United Nations Walk Its Talk?

Human Rights Watch

2 July 2008

Pacific: fem'TALK monthly enews bulletin
femLINKPACIFIC
1 July 2008

International: Peacewomen e-news #102: SCR 1820 - protection and participation
WILPF
1 July 2008