The Challenge of Small Arms Prevention through Education
Starting with the initial report of the United Nations Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms in 1997, the process that led to the convening of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects in July 2001 brought into sharp international focus one of the greatest humanitarian challenges facing the world community today, the escalating use and proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons, adopted by the United Nations Conference, was a first step at finding national, regional and international solutions to this most urgent of issues. The Secretary-General in his report to the Millennium Assembly, and his follow up reports on the roadmap towards the goals outlined by the Millennium Summit, has given priority concern to reversing the global proliferation of small arms and light weapons and to implementing the Programme of Action.
The Department for Disarmament Affairs began its engagement in public exercises in connection with small arms disarmament with the first successful disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) plan in Timbuktu, Mali in 1996 including a public ceremonial burning of over 2,000 collected weapons from former combatants in a "Flame of Peace". Since then, as a contribution to international peace and security the Department has steadily increased its expertise at establishing programmes for the collection of weapons at the request of the host country. To support those efforts, it has assisted public campaigns to reinforce national commitment to disarmament, reconciliation and nation rebuilding. Another example was a Flame of Peace ceremony in Agadez, Niger in September 2000 commemorated a milestone in the country's peace process. It marked the beginning of a countrywide campaign to end the scourge of illicit weapons and to participate in the Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Light Weapons in West Africa, signed by the heads of State or Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Recognizing the devastation to development efforts that continued possession by civilians and former combatants of high levels of small arms in post-conflict situations can cause, the Department developed in collaboration with UNDP its first "weapons for development" project in Gramsh, Albania in 1998, collecting 80% of the weapons, explosives and ammunition stolen from government arsenals in 1997, and offering in exchange jobs in public works, such as building roads, rehabilitation of schools, and installation of street lights and public telephones. According to local officials, the "arms bazaar" atmosphere that permeated Gramsh in 1997 has now disappeared. The Programme of Action of the 2001 United Nations Conference encouraged States to implement such programmes where possible. The Department, together with other UN offices, and the support of donor States, is focusing much of its efforts in assisting States to carry out such programmes.
The Department proposes to enhance its weapons collection and related small arms disarmament work through the implementation of a peace education programme in areas where the weapons collection has been substantially completed or is ongoing. Disarmament educational programmes have been part of the mission of DDA since its beginning, but have focused on public information campaigns on weapons of mass destruction. The Programme of Action endorsed the need for education and public awareness programmes around the scourge of small arms proliferation. Since March 2001, a Group of Governmental Experts has been meeting to prepare a study on disarmament and non-proliferation education to be submitted to the General Assembly in September 2002, and will be making recommendations on how to incorporate disarmament education into post-conflict situations as a contribution to the prevention of renewed conflict and to development. With the establishment of sound and successful models of weapons collections and the recognized need for public support of those programmes, it is both timely and appropriate to take initiatives not only for the removal of guns and gun violence, but for the building of positive supports for an understanding of non-violence among children and youth through sustainable, long-term educational initiatives.
School and community education for alternatives to violent responses to conflict is the only sustainable way we know of to prevent the weapons collected from reappearing and being used, threatening regional or even international peace and security.
To this end DDA sought out the assistance of the Hague Appeal for Peace. The Hague Appeal is an experienced practitioner in developing peace education programmes, and in working with components of civil society to find effective and long-lasting alternatives to war and violence. It is at the centre of a vast network of peace action and peace education organizations deeply rooted in civil society. With the assistance of a UNF planning grant, over a six-month period DDA and Hague Appeal staff consulted with dozens of peace action and peace education organizations in Albania (Gramsh and Shkodra), Cambodia (Kampong Chhnang district), Niger (N'guigmi), and Peru (Lima). In each location the representatives met with a wide variety of government and community leaders, with particular attention to those who worked with children and youth. The clear successes of the weapons collection programmes fuelled enthusiasm to strengthen cultures of non-violence through peace education and related programmes of action. In each location we identified partners from among the many organizations with whom we met. The programme for peace education proposed herein grows directly from both the needs and the assets of the host communities. |
