IANSA

The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) is an international non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. [ [http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/asp/form.asp DPI NGO Section] ] IANSA is based in London and has over 800 member organizations in 120 countries, working to stop the proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons. cite web|url=http://www.iansa.org/about.htm |title=About IANSA |accessdate=2008-04-24 ] Its director is Rebecca Peters. cite web|url=http://www.iansa.org/about/secretariat.htm |title=IANSA Secretariat |accessdate=2008-04-24 ]

IANSA describes key issues in its work as including public health, women and guns, child soldiers, and trade controls.

United Nations Activities

IANSA was involved in lobbying the 2001 United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms which produced an agreed programme of action. ["UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons", July 2001 accessed at [http://disarmament.un.org/cab/poa.html] September 6, 2006] A UN Review Conference ended in July 2006 [http://www.un.org/events/smallarms2006/index.html] without further agreement.

IANSA, part of the Control Arms Campaign, promotes an international treaty regulating the conventional arms trade. A resolution to begin work on this Arms Trade Treaty was approved by the UN General Assembly in 2006.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=International Arms Trade Treaty Aim of Draft Resolution | date=26 October 2006 | publisher=UN General Assembly Department of Public Information, News and Media Division | url =http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gadis3335.doc.htm | work =Press Release | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-24 | language = ]

The US National Rifle Association has accused IANSA of using the treaty as the first step in a ban on private gun ownership in the United States,cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=H.R. 3436/S. 1488 The “Second Amendment Protection Act of 2005: Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms From infringement by the United Nations. | date=7/26/2006 | publisher=National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action | url =http://www.nraila.org/issues/factsheets/read.aspx?id=201&issue=015 | work =Fact Sheet: International/UN Gun Control Issues | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-24 | language = ] and also of making it easier for the world's dictatorships to oppress their own citizens.cite news | first=David B. | last=Kopel | coauthors= Paul Gallant & Joanne D. Eisen | title=Uganda: We're from the government, and we're here to help you. | date=12/20/2007 | publisher=National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action | url =http://www.nraila.org/issues/articles/read.aspx?id=267 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-24 | language = ] The Gun Owners of America lobbying organisation has been equally vocal in its criticism of IANSA.cite news | first=Chris | last=Chumita | coauthors= | title=A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing | date=Jul 2006 | publisher=Gun Owners of America | url =http://www.gunowners.org/op0624.htm | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-04-24 | language = ]

Gun Control Activities

IANSA is described as an umbrella network to which almost all national and regional gun control groups belongcite journal
quotes =
last = Kopel
first = David B.
authorlink =
coauthors = Paul Gallant & Joanne D. Eisen
date =
year =
month =
title = The Human Right of Self-Defense
journal = BYU Journal of Public Law
volume = 22
issue = 1
pages = 43–178
publisher = Brigham Young University
location = Provo, Utah, USA
issn =
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doi =
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url = http://www.law2.byu.edu/jpl/Vol22.1/Kopel.pdf
language =
format = pdf
accessdate = 2008-02-05
laysummary =
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quote = ] and is estimated to represent over 500 gun control organizations worldwidecite news
first = David
last = Morton
title = Gunning For the World
url = http://www.alternet.org/story/38268/?page=entire
work = Foreign Policy
date = 2006-07-05
accessdate = 2008-07-23 ] . IANSA opposes the use of firearms for self-defense. It advocates prohibiting the private possession of many kinds of small arms, including semi-automatic rifles and handguns.cite web
url= http://www.iansa.org/un/review2006/National-regulation-of-small-arms.pdf
title= IANSA position paper: National regulation of small arms
accessdate= 2008-02-05
author=
last=
first=
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coauthors=
date=
year= 2006
month=
format= pdf
work=
publisher= IANSA
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quote= ] It advocates that private citizens undergo a licensing process before they can possess any remaining firearms, and that legally possessed firearms be stored unloaded and away from ammunition.

National Activities

Brazil

IANSA membership in Brazil includes the groups Instituto Sou da Paz and Viva Riocite web
url= http://www.iansa.org/about/members/samerica.htm
title= IANSA: Members: South America
date= 2007-06-14
publisher= IANSA] which campaigned for a complete ban on civilian gun sales in Brazilcite web
url= http://www.iansa.org/regions/samerica/documents/soudapaz-pr10805.pdf
title= The Campaign for the Brazilian Referendum Starts Today
date= 2005-08-05
publisher= IANSA
format= pdf] . The ban was subject to a national referendum in 2005. A week before the vote, IANSA coordinated an international day of support for the Brazilian ban, with demonstrations taking place in Britain, Italy, South Africa, and other countries. IANSA urged support of the ban to "reinforce the movement in favor of gun control in other Latin American countries riddled with armed violence, and back the efforts to control private gun ownership at [an] international level."

The referendum was defeated by 64% of the voters. [cite news
title = Brazilians reject gun sales ban
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4368598.stm
publisher = BBC News
date = 2005-10-24
accessdate = 2008-02-05 ]

Canada

The IANSA network includes Canadian gun control organizations such as the Coalition for Gun Controlcite web
url= http://www.iansa.org/about/members/namerica.htm
title= IANSA: Members: North America
date= 2007-06-14
publisher= IANSA
pages=
language=
doi=
archiveurl=
archivedate=
quote= .]

United States of America

IANSA membership in the United States includes gun control organizations such as the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence, Legal Community Against Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Funding

IANSA’s work has been supported by funders including the Governments of UK, Belgium, Sweden and Norway, as well as the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Compton Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Institute created by George Soros, Samuel Rubin Foundation and Christian Aid.

ee also

* Small arms proliferation

Footnotes

Links

* [http://www.iansa.org/index.htm International Action Network on Small Arms]
* [http://www.iansa.org/action/nra_debate.htm IANSA Director in Gun Debate with the NRA]