Small arms

Sweden

SweFOR is carrying out an extensive information campaign on small arms, directed at its members and the public. As a part of this campaign, we are scrutinising the governments' efforts to oppose the spreading of small arms.

SweFOR is responsible for summoning meetings of the Swedish Action Network on SmallArms (SANSA). This network works to increase knowledge of the problems with small arms, and to decrease the spreading of light arms both nationally and internationally.

SANSA is the Swedish part of the international Action Network on Small Arms. The network takes part in international campaigns and also arranges seminars in Sweden.

Parliament has its own organisation for questions appertaining to small arms and all seven parliamentary parties are represented in this. SweFOR supports the organisation by keeping the members informed and up to date on the situation in the area of small arms and by helping with a certain amount of administration.

Latin America

The problem of small arms in Latin America is very serious indeed. Tens of thousands of people die every year, shot to death in, among other countries, Central America, Brazil and Colombia.

For several years SweFOR has worked to reform legislation applicable to small arms. In co-operation with the United Nations regional offices in Latin America, courses have been held which have been specifically directed at members of Parliament and their advisers. We have contributed with legal expertise and knowledge about how civilians can be included in the work for reform. In certain cases, in Nicaragua for example, the courses have contributed to improve legislation considerably.

At the same time laws are not enough. In order to realise the aims of the legislation, resources and systems are needed, which really control the production of, trade with, and possession of firearms. This demands political will.

During recent years SweFOR has more and more stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of Latin America's civil society in questions appertaining to light arms. At the same time we have stressed the need to promote a dialogue between civil society and political decision makers, a dialogue that is central to the problem but often lacking.

Civil society can enlighten the media and public on the cost to society caused by small arms. It can work practically among people who are victims of armed robbery. It can campaign for the collection of firearms and can suggest steps that the government and parliament should take.

Since 2005 SweFOR has hosted a series of meetings with the purpose of creating a Latin American platform for coordinated work in the region. In 2006, CLAVE was formed (Latinamerican Coalition for the Prevention of Armed Violence).

SweFOR's projects are financed mostly by SIDA.

Global

Parliamentary forum on small arms

At the beginning of the twenty first century, SweFOR hosted several international meetings aimed at Parliamentarians and their advisers. These meetings contributed to the creation of a permanent forum for members of Parliament in 2002, with representatives from Sweden, Spain and Latin America. This forum has, with time, aroused ever increasing interest and at the Annual Meeting in Mexico in 2005, members of Parliament from Europe and Africa took part, as well as many representatives from civil society.

Through the forum a chance is given to exchange experiences on legislation, national plans of action and other steps to decrease the flow of small arms. For more information about the forum see www.parliamentaryforum.org.

The United Nations and other International fora

In 2001 a conference was organised at which the United Nations decided on a program for action against the illegal spreading of light weapons. This plan encourages governments to take action on national, regional and international levels and it has become a starting point for much of the work that individual organisations are carrying out.

Subsequent UN conferences have been held in 2001 ,2003 and 2005. In 2006 the first more thorough follow-up of the plan was carried out. SweFOR has taken part in all these conferences, always in close dialogue with the Swedish delegation and, in certain cases, as a part of it. SweFOR has also arranged seminars and workshops in connection with the UN conferences.

International Campaigns

SweFOR cooperates with a series of international organisations. We are one of 500 members of IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) SweFOR also participates in the global campaign "Control Arms", which works for the appointment of international minimum rules for the arms trade. Read more at www.controlarms.org.

ENSA - Ecumenical Network on Small Arms

Among the members of IANSA, there are many organisations which belong to church or ecumenical organisations. SweFOR has, together with the World Council of Churches, taken the initiative in setting up a network just for these organisations. The purpose is to exchange information about small arms and ecumenical involvement in the campaign against these weapons.