Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence: 26 June – 2 July 2023

Every year, IANSA invites its members to join in solidarity to advocate for an end to the illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW) by participating in the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence (GWoA). This year the GWoA will take place from 26 June to 2 July 2023. The goal of this campaign-action is to raise awareness about the widespread killing, destruction of livelihoods and further threats of violence arising from the proliferation and misuse of guns and to urge governments and parliaments to take effective measures to prevent and eradicate gun violence.

IANSA’s theme this year is “Promoting Dialogue and a Culture of Peace: Taking Action to End Gun Proliferation and Violence!” by encouraging, as appropriate, education and public awareness programmes as well as meetings involving representatives from key sectors of society with governments officials and parliamentarians to discuss the problems of the illicit trade of SALW in all its aspects and to develop viable solutions.

The United Nations defined a “Culture of Peace” as a “set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations.” The General Assembly invited Member States to take the necessary steps to ensure that the practice of peace and non-violence is taught at all levels in their respective societies, including educational institutions, and called on relevant UN bodies as well as non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and groups, educational institutions, artists, and the media for support.

All the world’s governments made numerous commitments in the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA), which was adopted by the General Assembly in June 2001. Under the review process for the UNPoA most governments have made further commitments since then. The GWoA is an opportunity for civil society organisations to urge governments to implement and strengthen their UNPoA commitments. IANSA is calling on its civil society members to start mobilising in the lead up to the Fourth Review Conference on the UNPoA (RevCon4), which is set to take place 17-28 June 2024.

Advocacy points and actions to promote this GWoA:

• Responsibility of States for strict SALW controls;
• Specific measures to regulate the SALW trade;
• Building public and political support for the UNPoA;
• Transparency in reporting and international cooperation and assistance.

Please find all campaign materials on this page.