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 it will take place from 3 – 9 June 2025.
IANSA’s theme this year is “A World without Gun Violence: Turning Words into Actions,” it envisions a future where gun violence is no longer a threat to communities worldwide. It calls for global solidarity, State commitment, and concrete actions to achieve disarmament, promote peacebuilding, and ensure the safety of all individuals. The GWoA emphasises the need for all stakeholders to work together to achieve tangible outcomes and taking meaningful steps forward for a world without gun violence.
States have made numerous commitments to 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. The GWoA is an opportunity for civil society organisations to urge State governments to strengthen their UNPoA commitments and start mobilising in the lead up to the Fourth Review Conference on the UNPoA (RevCon4), which is set to take place 18-28 June 2024. It commits all participating States to cooperate on measures that will help achieve the purpose of the UNPoA, including “to reduce the human suffering caused by the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects and to enhance the respect for life and the dignity of the human person through the promotion of a culture of peace.”
- Strengthening transfer controls;
- Controlling SALW ammunition;
- Collecting, destroying, and safely disposing of surplus SALW and ammunition;
- Mainstreaming gender;
- Engaging with youth;
- Setting national and regional targets;
- Controlling the civilian possession of SALW.