Arms Control, Armed Violence and Development
According to recent estimates,
direct and indirect violence claims more than 740,000 lives each
year globally. It has been catastrophic to the socio-economic and
political stability of any country. It not only injures or kills but
is also responsible for triggering forced displacement, eroding
social capital, poverty, destroying infrastructure and
underdevelopment.
Pakistan remained victim of armed violence in the recent past and
most recently it has acquired a shape of poisonous octopus
threatening even the very foundation of this republic. The term
armed violence was never novel to the Pakistani society. However,
recently there has been exponential increase in the intensity of
this phenomenon. Almost on daily basis Pakistan’s electronic media
is flooded with depressing and moving stories of armed violence from
all across Pakistan. Even the situation is so worse that at times
victim and perpetrator both don’t know the cause of such inhuman
acts. These incidents are not confined to specific geographic
location or area in Pakistan. Reports suggest that no part of
Pakistan can be considered safe and on daily basis her citizens are
losing lives to this menace. Unfortunately Pakistan has one of the
greatest per capita rates of gun ownership. It is believed that some
twenty million small arms and light weapons are in civilian hands.
Similarly the rate of private gun ownership in Pakistan is 11.6 fire
arms per 100 people which are too high for a country which is
politically divided and economically segregated. The above mention
facts enunciate the gravity of situation in Pakistan where SALW are
available in ample quantity within her four corners
SPADO is an active member of the global Control Arms Coalition and
International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). From the
platform of such networks the organization is contributing toward
the establishment of an effective Arms Trade Treaty, national
control arms regimes and the implementation of the UN program of
action on small arms and light weapons.
Similarly the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development
highlights the role that states and civil society must play in
preventing and reducing violence associated with war, crime, and
social unrest. The Geneva Declaration commits signatories to Support
initiatives to measure the human, social and economic costs of armed
violence; undertake assessments to understand and respond to risks
and vulnerabilities; evaluate the effectiveness of armed violence
prevention and reduction programs around the world; and to
disseminate lessons and best practices. SPADO is actively supporting
the declaration and encourage the government of Pakistan to sign the
Geneva Declaration in its true spirit, which will prove as a
harbinger of peace and prosperity in Pakistan.
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