End Celebratory Gunfire: 22 December – 5 January

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) and Instituto de Enseñanza para el Desarrollo Sostenible (IEPADES), IANSA invites you to “Celebrate with your heart, not a gun!” and promote an end to celebratory gunfire.

What is celebratory gunfire?

Celebratory gunfire, or the firing of shots in the air, is a very dangerous practice, which results in the production of stray bullets that injure and kill innocent victims. It can occur during the holiday season and the celebration of the New Year. Some countries and territories have banned celebratory gunfire but many others have not. All bullets that are shot in the air must come down and these stray bullets put lives in danger, guns are not needed to celebrate!

In 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) published a study analyzing documented cases of stray bullet injuries from 2014 to 2015, it offers recommendations for States for preventing further cases of stray bullets in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Some UNLIREC recommendations for small arms control in this report include:

• establishing reasonable controls over the legal trade in small arms and ammunition;
• equipping and training law enforcement to better intervene and investigate cases of illicit arms trafficking and armed violence;
• securing national and private stockpiles of small arms and ammunition to prevent theft and diversion;
• establishing clear and enforceable laws and polices related to small arms possession and use. In terms of armed violence reduction public policies, States and local governments should take into consideration implementing measures to prevent the convergence of multiple risk factors (small arms, drugs, alcohol and youth), voluntary weapons collection programmes, gun free zones and conflict resolution mechanisms at the local level.

SEESAC has published an analysis of incidents of celebratory shooting in South East Europe (SEE) – In-Focus-Celebratory Shootings in South East Europe in 2021 based on a year-long data collection through their Armed Violence Monitoring Platform.

Follow these campaigns:

SEESAC will also be launching a regional awareness-raising campaign online against celebratory shooting from the 22 December – 15 January called #CelebrateWithYourHeart #BetheStaroftheParty, following up on their 2021 campaign #DontBeLikeJoe.

IANSA member organization IEPADES in Guatemala, campaigns every year to end celebratory gunfire. The campaign will be shared via social media with these graphics and posters. IEPADES and IANSA urge everyone to enjoy the holidays without the devastating impact of armed violence. Visit IEPADES website here.

Here are some ways you can help end celebratory gunfire:

• Share IANSA’s End Celebratory Gunfire animated campaign logo and webpage on social media. Use the hashtags: #EndCelebratoryGunfire #ECG2022 #SafeCelebration in your posts, don’t forget to tag us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
• Follow and share SEESAC and IEPADES’ campaigns on social media, tag community members, organisations and government leaders in your region/country.
• Promote and share UNLIREC’s recommendations to prevent further cases of injuries and deaths from stray bullets with your local/national officials.
• Share SEESAC’s analysis reports on celebratory shootings.
• Share your concerns about celebratory gunfire with your local law enforcement agencies and legislators in the lead-up to times when celebratory gunfire is most common. In countries where celebratory gunfire is illegal but still practiced, urge local law enforcement agencies to take legal action against offenders and strengthen penalties.
• Educate members in your community about the risk of celebratory gunfire before such celebrations take place and promote safer ways to celebrate.
• Ask your local media to provide coverage of the dangers of celebratory gunfire.

As we enter the new year, let’s work together to ensure that no one faces the trauma of a stray bullet injury or death. Join us in calling for gun-free, heart filled celebrations!