MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

THEME 3
to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “[g]lobal data on the impact
of small arms on the health of individuals are far from complete. What
data is available, however, suggests that hundreds of thousands of people
are killed each year by those weapons. Millions more survive their injuries
but are left with permanent physical disabilities and mental health
problems.” 3
Injuries and permanent disabilities impede effective employment, wellbeing,
and reintegration into community and family life. The long-term
effects are not just physical, but include psychological impairment, depression,
suicidal behaviour, and substance abuse. Victims of violence are also
themselves at increased risk of committing violence against others. 4 This
presents real challenges for national efforts to promote public safety and
security. One study found that exposure to gun violence approximately
doubles the probability that an adolescent will perpetrate serious violence
over the two subsequent years. 5
The combined fatal and non-fatal injuries due to the misuse of guns—
in the hundreds of thousands per year—can impede or reverse hard-won
development gains, and investments in education and health. Realising the
value of such investment is critical to any nation’s future.
Violence is among the leading causes of death for people aged 15-44
years worldwide, accounting for 14% of deaths among males and 7% of
deaths among females. 6 Young men are particularly vulnerable to death
and injury in just about every setting: high-income and low-income, wartorn,
peaceful or countries in transition, from intentional, accidental or
self-directed gun violence.
It is estimated that in 50 years time, there will be six-million men missing
from the Brazilian population as a result of dying from homicide—
the vast majority of these deaths are gun-related homicide. 7
Women and girls require particular attention when thinking about assistance
to survivors of gun violence, with well-documented vulnerability to
sexual violence at gunpoint in all settings. Assistance in this case implies
that law enforcement agencies, emergency health services and social services
must be alerted to their special needs and trauma, and respond
quickly and appropriately. The stigmatisation of victims of sexual violence
also needs to be addressed urgently. This is an area where parliamentarians
can work to ensure harmonised approaches across various sectors of
government.
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