WUNRN
WOMEN, WAR, PEACE, SMALL ARMS -
UNIFEM
Small arms
deeply affect women because women and other civilians are the disproportionate
victims of conflict, the presence of small arms interferes with the provision
of basic needs and, women are playing greater roles in peace-building and
peace-making operations. In wars and communities saturated with weapons, such
arms are used to terrorize women and empower armed individuals and gangs to
commit heinous crimes directed specifically at women. Women are often forced to
endure rape and other sexual abuse and violence, as well as abductions and
forced slavery, including prostitution at the point of a gun.
Refugees
are often afraid to return to their homes because of the large number of
weapons still in the hands of the population. With the adult male population
greatly diminished, women often become the main provider for their devastated
families during and after a conflict. The presence of small arms makes this
task increasingly difficult. In post-conflict societies today, women are
playing a greater role than ever before in the peacekeeping and peace-making
process. For example, women are integral to reintegration and rehabilitation
projects for former combatants. Women manage the consequences of small arms
proliferation on a daily basis. Women must be included in all aspects of a
society's post-conflict reconstruction process and their special needs -
psychological, social, and economic - addressed. more... Gender-based
violence is made more likely, and more severe, when SALW are readily available.
Small arms have
a particular impact on men as well. In fact, men make up the majority of
victims of SALW. This fact highlights the gendered nature of small arms. They
impact men and women in fundamentally different ways. Men are much more likely
to be killed and injured by guns; men are more likely to kill and maim with
guns. However, women make up a greater proportion of gun victims in relation to
their proportion of gun owners and uses. more... Gun ownership is often closely
related to conceptions of masculinity in society where SALW and gun violence is
pervasive. In some cultures, boys receive guns as a part of coming of age
rites. According to a 2003 report published by Amnesty International and Oxfam
International, entitled Shattered Lives, “the power of guns is inextricably
linked with the notion of masculinity in both industrialized and traditional
cultures.The power of guns is both symbolic and actual.” Furthermore, the
glamourization of gun violence in conjunction with hyper masculinity has spread
to many conflict zones and influences the way young men see themselves in the
context of ongoing fighting, poverty and despair. Nonetheless, women also can
play roles that are conducive to SALW proliferation by smuggling, arming
themselves and encouraging their men to arm.
Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW): Small arms and light weapons
are used by all armed forces, including internal security forces for, inter
alia, self-protection or self-defence, close or short-range combat, direct or indirect
fire, and against tanks or aircraft at relatively short distances. Broadly
speaking, small arms are those designed for personal use and light weapons are
those designed for use by several persons serving as a crew. While small arms
and light weapons are designed for use by armed forces, they have unique
characteristics that are also of particular advantage for irregular warfare or
terrorist and criminal action.
Report of the Secretary-General on
the Methods of Destruction of SALW, Ammunition and Explosives. 15 November 2000
more...
Arms Transfers: Arms transfers include all forms of
movements, including aid and free gifts, in addition to commercial sales,
brokered sales and licensed production.
Arms Brokering: Arms brokering includes activities
designed to facilitate or arrange or conclude an arms deal. It is also used to
refer to those supplying transportation and financial services to complete an
arms deal.
Marking and tracing: According to Small Arms Survey
2003, at the first UN Conference on SALW, “ninety-five states advocated marking
weapons in order to determine the origin of, and transfer routes taken by,
small arms thus preventing their diversion from legal to illicit markets.
UNIFEM has been actively involved in raising awareness
and contributing to policy development about the ownership of small arms in
conflict, and post conflict areas around the world, and the effect of small
arms violence in conflict on women. Efforts include:
The Independent
Experts' Assessment on Women, War, Peace and Small Arms and the accompanying
recommendations can be accessed in this archive: Small Arms Archive
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