07 dec LAUNCHING NOW- CAMPAIGN #WORDS OVER BULLETS IS LIVE
Today marks the relaunch of our social media campaign #WordsOverBullets. We warmly welcome you to join the campaign by interacting with us on Facebook @PFSALW and Twitter @ParlforumSalw!
Every day, over 600 men, women and children are killed in the world in armed violence caused by Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) according to the Small Arms Survey. The purpose of the campaign is to raise global awareness on the severe human, social and economic cost of armed violence and conflict, and the importance of parliamentarians taking effective steps towards more peaceful and sustainably developed societies. With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to prevent armed violence as to allow societies to focus resources on tackling the ongoing health, social and economic crises.
The campaign will include short films, photos and messages from parliamentarians, civil society and other relevant actors related to the prevention of SALW-related violence.
🕊 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🕊
We need your help to continue to support parliamentarians worldwide, providing them with the knowledge and capacity necessary to act for change. Please join our efforts to achieve more peaceful and sustainable societies by donating to our work. All contributions, small or big, make a difference. Welcome to make your donation here: http://parliamentaryforum.org/donate/
In appreciation for a donation, we will send you a Christmas card. Thank you for your support!
About the Forum
As established in the Strategic Plan 2019-2022, the Theory of Change of the Forum is to contribute to the achievement of more peaceful and sustainably developed societies by enhancing parliamentary action in the implementation and universalisation of international frameworks relevant to the prevention and reduction of SALW-related violence through capacity building, policy shaping and awareness raising.
The Forum is the only membership-based organisation gathering parliamentarians globally across party-political lines, specifically related to the reduction and prevention of SALW-related violence.
The uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of SALW has widespread human, economic and social costs; it hinders sustainable development and threatens human security. Furthermore, it threatens democracy and good governance, facilitates violations of human rights, and contributes to the persistence of armed conflicts in all parts of the world. This was acknowledged internationally by the inclusion of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 in the 2030 Agenda, target 4, which recognises the reduction of illicit arms flows as vital for sustainable development and peace.
Methodologically the Forum’s work rests on three main pillars: capacity building, policy shaping and awareness raising. The work is continuously connected to relevant national, regional and international frameworks and processes. The points of departure of the work of the Forum are the three key roles of parliamentarians: the legislative, the oversight and the awareness-raising functions. The Forum pursues a multi-stakeholder approach working together with parliamentarians, governments, international organisations and civil society organisations.
Definition of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)*
*Based on the 1997 UN Panel of Governmental Expert (available on www.un.org) that considers portability a defining characteristic.
SALW includes civilian, private, and military weapons that fire a projectile with the condition that the unit or system may be carried by an individual, a small number of people, or transported by a pack animal or a light vehicle.
- Small arms: revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, assault rifles, sub-machine guns and light machine guns.
- Light weapons: heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems; portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) and mortars of calibres of less than 100 mm.
Campaign sources:
Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2020, ‘Gender equality’ https://www.ipu.org/our-impact/gender-equality
Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2020, ‘Youth empowerment’ https://www.ipu.org/our-impact/youth-empowerment
Parliamentary Forum, 2016, ‘Policy Statement on Women, Peace and Security’ https://bit.ly/2H2rcfy
Parliamentary Forum, 2017, ‘Policy Statement on Youth, Peace and Security’ http://www.parliamentaryforum.org/sites/default/files/policy_statement_on_youth_peace_and_security.pdf
Parliamentary Forum, 2019, ‘Parliamentary Strengthening for Democratic, Peaceful and Sustainably Developed Societies’ http://parliamentaryforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Parlforum-Policy-Statement-on-Parliamentary-Strengthening-for-Democratic-Peaceful-and-Sustainably-Developed-Societies.pdf
Small Arms Survey, 2020, ’Global violent deaths in 2018’ http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/W-Infographics/SAS-GVD-March-2020-update.pdf
United Nations, 2013, ‘The Arms Trade Treaty’
https://unoda-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/English7.pdf
United Nations, 2020, ‘The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war’. https://www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/fury-virus-illustrates-folly-war
