Let’s get with the programme on guns, urges NGO group

REPRESENTATIVES of civil society have called on Government to urgently review the Fire Arms Act of 1996 and to submit its views on the Arms Trade Treaty.

The Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (Nangof), International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) and the Gun Free Southern Africa observe this week as the Global Week Against Gun Violence. In a statement yesterday, Pauline Dempers of Nangof said gun crime was real in Namibia and had a negative impact socially and economically.According to statistics given during a debate in the National Assembly, between 2002 to 2006, some 2 544 crimes in which firearms were pointed at citizens were recorded.Of these, 1 595 were against women and 352 against men.In 207 cases, women were murdered with firearms while in 43 cases the killings were against men.There were also 2 130 robberies involving firearms, while the theft of nearly 1 000 firearms was recorded.Dempers said the objective of activities this week would be aimed at reducing all forms of gun crime, the illicit trade of firearms and light weapons and to review the national instruments governing or regulating firearms and to amend such laws to suit the realities of the day.”Gun crime and the availability of guns is complex.We believe there is no single solution, but we can assist to reduce gun crime through the strategies we employ,” she said.She said Namibia needed to, without further delay, speed up the review process of the Fire Arms Act of 1996.”We call on citizens to observe this week and refrain from gun crime.We encourage communities to voluntarily report and hand in illegal firearms to the law enforcement agencies, by so doing ensure a safe environment, for growth and development of our country,” she said.Nangof and Government earlier launched a National Action Plan on the control and management of small arms and light weapons, and Namibia is also a signatory to most agreements dealing with firearms.Dempers said steps taken by Government and civil society demonstrated a commitment to manage, control and reduce gun violence in the country.According to an International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) report, only 12 African countries have submitted their views on the proposed ATT.Namibia is not among them.”Given the impact of armed and violent conflicts in Africa, all African governments need to support this initiative.The deadline is June 20 for country submissions,” Dempers said.In a statement yesterday, Pauline Dempers of Nangof said gun crime was real in Namibia and had a negative impact socially and economically.According to statistics given during a debate in the National Assembly, between 2002 to 2006, some 2 544 crimes in which firearms were pointed at citizens were recorded.Of these, 1 595 were against women and 352 against men.In 207 cases, women were murdered with firearms while in 43 cases the killings were against men.There were also 2 130 robberies involving firearms, while the theft of nearly 1 000 firearms was recorded.Dempers said the objective of activities this week would be aimed at reducing all forms of gun crime, the illicit trade of firearms and light weapons and to review the national instruments governing or regulating firearms and to amend such laws to suit the realities of the day.”Gun crime and the availability of guns is complex.We believe there is no single solution, but we can assist to reduce gun crime through the strategies we employ,” she said.She said Namibia needed to, without further delay, speed up the review process of the Fire Arms Act of 1996.”We call on citizens to observe this week and refrain from gun crime.We encourage communities to voluntarily report and hand in illegal firearms to the law enforcement agencies, by so doing ensure a safe environment, for growth and development of our country,” she said.Nangof and Government earlier launched a National Action Plan on the control and management of small arms and light weapons, and Namibia is also a signatory to most agreements dealing with firearms.Dempers said steps taken by Government and civil society demonstrated a commitment to manage, control and reduce gun violence in the country.According to an International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) report, only 12 African countries have submitted their views on the proposed ATT.Namibia is not among them.”Given the impact of armed and violent conflicts in Africa, all African governments need to support this initiative.The deadline is June 20 for country submissions,” Dempers said.