Zipping up loose barrels: Malawi fights proliferation of small arms, armed violence

RICHARD CHIROMBO
Just a tiny hole, the barrel of a conventional firearm; but the wrath
of its ‘vomit’ bears a risk now global in nature.
They are favoured for their portable size. So easy to hide, too. But,
all over the world, the resultant death or injuries are there for all
to behold.
And the dead are almost ‘lucky’ because they will not be there to live
with the pain. Others are less ‘fortunate’; they live to endure the
loss of their loved ones, or live with wounds, mutilated bodies,
makeshift organs, and a past that talks in cold blood or bullet
sounds.
It is a reality that makes Undule Mwakasungula, Centre for Human
Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director so sick he buries
his head in his bushless hands.
He wishes he could hide, and hide in the jungle of peace.
“Peace, the peace we have and often take for granted is the greatest
capital for development. It applies everywhere in the world, and
Malawi is no exception,” he ventures. “Gun violence is threatening
this (peace).”
Mwakasungula has been there, at the biggest stage, having attended
global meetings against gun violence initiated by the International
Action Network on Small Arms (Iansa).
He says, more than any other time in history, the world needs an
urgent solution to tackle gun violence.
In a way, he blames it on history. It has failed to live up to the
commonest human view that it (history) represents progress- that long,
upward struggle of humanity to master nature and achieve well being.
It is a brief that has rested, for thousands of years, on our faith in
reason, and in science and technology.
Two World Wars, because of the little ‘stick’ called gun, shook our
faith in reason, prompting us to bank on science and technology. These
have certainly bettered the human lot; but they seem, also, to carry
some seeds of despair and destruction.
“It is technology that has given way to advanced small arms and
conventional weapons, all the while these weapons are becoming ever
smaller, rendering detection almost impossible. Our own achievements
are turning against us, and it’s all because we have generally failed
to tally scientific and technological advancements with global
requirements to be transparent and accountable,” says Mwakasungula.
Ten years ago, the human rights activist’s sentiments would have made
more sense. Now, they sound analogous to conducting a parents’
memorial service during the seventh anniversary of your own wedding.
Why? Some seven years ago, the world woke up to the reality that the
proliferation of small arms and light weapons was getting out of hand,
with many weapons being found in wrong hands: the custody of armed
robbers, rebels, fuming husbands, ranting wives, and innocent
children.
“No matter what purpose one uses a firearm for, it may breed death.
Human beings have learned, over the years, to account for death. That
is why we have the likes of Dr. Charles Dzamalala to carry out
autopsies. They give us reason for death. That question ‘why?’ can be
nerve wrecking in life,” says Edward Chaka.
He wonders why arms’ manufacturers are not held accountable for the
needless deaths or injuries their products inflict on innocent global
citizens. Surely, there must be a way of holding them accountable, and
counting the cost of their ‘expertise’.
Chaka is the executive director for People’s Federation for National
Peace and Development (PEFENAP), one of the three Malawian
organisations, alongside CHRR and the Centre for Conflict Resolution
and Women Development Affairs (CECOWDA), spearheading the battle
against gun violence in Malawi.
In 2003, 153 United Nations member states, including Malawi, voted at
the UN General Assembly for a resolution on establishing an Arms Trade
Treaty (ATT), a comprehensive plan of action aimed at nipping small
arms and conventional weapons’ proliferation in the bud.
But, even at that high level, it was largely a men’s world; the world
of the mighty gun.
That is why the coming in of CECOWDA, a pro-women organization,
changes the face of the gun- the way people look at it, and the
martial jacket we adorn it with. For a long time, people associated
the gun with men, thinking, even, that the gun would in real life have
beards and a cold face.
Things are now changing, beginning with United Nations Security
Council Resolutions, specifically Resolution 1325 and 1820. These
purport that there is “No security without women’s security”, and that
efforts aimed at protecting women would go along way in preventing
incidences of gun violence.
Iansa has seen sense in this, also, and is asking governments to
develop strong National Action Plans ( NAPs) on Women, Peace and
Security as required by UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
This year, the resolution will be ten years old, with all-year events
organized throughout the world to commemorate this. Governments such
as Malawi are expected to formulate effective NAPs.
The Ministry of Gender ‘will’ play a crucial role in this. Patricia
Kaliati, minister responsible, is, however, displeased with the
employment of the word ‘will’ in the above sentence, and says
government is already doing some commendable work.
‘Will’ does not exist because things are already happening, Kaliati argues.
It may not be related to small arms and light weapons, specifically,
but nothing that has to be done has been left undone. Kaliati says her
ministry has amplified the battle against women abuse by initiating
the formulation of various draft bills and strategies. She has ready
examples:
“As part of our efforts to reduce violence against women, we want to
tackle the none-violent practices that may spill into armed violence.
Practices such as polygamy, rape, defilement, wife battering- which
we are tackling now- may promote armed violence against women in
future, so we are dealing with the psychological things first, before
we deal with the tangible things.”
Kaliati says, even when faced with hardcore detractors and critics,
the battle will not stall.
“This is time for action; idle time, which was during the other
administration, is gone. We are committed to protecting women from all
forms of violence, including the use of threats, arms and knives,” she
adds.
Even with all these assurances, one thing that comes more clearly is
the fact that it is the end users who are the target: the angry
husband, trigger-happy robber, among others. Where are the
manufacturers of small arms and light weapons in this equation?
“Certainly, somewhere so good and peaceful. They may be chatting with
their wives, husbands, children, relatives, workmates, busy making
merry with their friends, or even sleeping. But you can lest be
assured that they have peace wherever they are. The problem is that
these people are not held accountable for aiding war crimes and
serious violations of human rights,” says Chaka.
Chaka rushes to say, however, that that is where the issue of ATT
comes in; it is there to hold these people accountable for aiding war
crimes, armed robberies, in the process perpetuating poverty,
corruption, armed conflict and organized crime.
The other problem, says CECOWDA executive director Caroline Mvalo, is
that it is women who bear the brunt of all these. She even suggests
that most of the crimes the world says are ‘crimes against humanity’
are, in fact, crimes against women first, before the gangrene spreads
to other vulnerable sectors of society.
“Violence, almost always, starts from the weakest link, which are
women and children. It is our hope that the ATT will help solve this.
We really need a change in approach, and the way weapons’ transfers
take place, and how they land in ‘wrong’ hands. Someone must be held
accountable at the top of the table,” says Mvalo.
The good news is that United Nations and Iansa reports indicate that
the ATT process has surged forward since June 2009’ s Global Week of
Action against Gun Violence and Arms Control Campaign, which revolved
around the UN First Committee in October last year. In December 2009,
Malawi was among the 153 states that voted in the UN General Assembly
for a resolution that establishes a 2012 UN Conference on the ATT,
where the draft treaty text will be negotiated and finalized.
Even more important is the decision by UN member states to transform
the planned four weeks of the Open-Ended Working Group in 2010 and
2011 into preparatory committees (PreComs) to help develop the text.
In February this year, representatives from over 60 NGOs gathered at
the Vienna Conference of NGOs and agreed to expand their programmatic
areas. These now include promoting consultations with community
members (People’s Treaty), advocating for a comprehensive definition
of the scope of the ATT and the adoption of ethical principles and
robust rules based on acceptable international standards.
NGOs are also expected to press their governments to follow up with
requisite action on the outcomes of the Armed Violence and Development
meeting held in Oslo from April 21-22 2009, before they (world
governments, including Malawi) meet for the UN Programme of Action on
Small Arms (PoA) from July 14-18 this year.
The venue will be New York, United States of America. Meeting name:
PoA Biennial Meeting of States.
“It could as well define peace for us and our children; peace for the
future,” is, perhaps, Mvalo’s expectation of hope for the next world.
The next best world.