MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

THEME 6
Assistance Committee (OECD DAC) to allow Official Development Assistance
(ODA) to be used for “technical co-operation and civilian support
for . . . controlling, preventing and reducing the proliferation of small arms
and light weapons” 5 clearly establishes this link for the donor community.
In addition, at the fall 2005 session of the UN General Assembly, states
adopted resolution 60/68 which calls upon states inter alia to “develop, where
appropriate, comprehensive armed violence prevention programmes integrated
into national development strategies, including poverty reduction
strategies”. 6 Such decisions reflect the understanding that weapons control
and reduction is often a prerequisite to sustainable development. Conversely,
socioeconomic development should lead to a decrease in the demand for
weapons.
“The 114 th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union . . . calls upon
parliaments to promote full implementation by their governments of
their pledges under the United Nations Millennium Declaration to ensure
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, a measure
which requires disarmament and the reduction of armed violence.”
—IPU resolution, 114th Assembly, 12 May 2006 , para. 35
It is however critical to start identifying precisely which approaches are
effective and which are not. Focusing on youth violence, the World Health
Organisation (WHO) has identified a spectrum of prevention strategies,
ranging from social development programmes to incentives to complete
secondary schooling and pursue higher education, mentoring programmes,
family therapy, public information campaigns, or promoting the safe and
secure storage of firearms. 7 Some approaches, however, have already been
proven ineffective in isolation, including gun buy-backs, trying young
offenders in adult courts, or individual counselling. More research is central
to identify which strategies may offer the most promise.
DEMAND REDUCTION IN PRACTICE
The past decade has witnessed a marked increase in initiatives around the
world aimed at reducing armed violence and small arms availability.
Though often popularly perceived as a heavily armed society, there are
comparatively few commercially manufactured firearms in Papua New
Guinea. 8 A wide variety of guns are nevertheless available, and they are
being used to devastating effect. 9 Violence in Mendi, the capital of the
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