Disarm Domestic Violence

The first international campaign to protect women from gun violence in the home.

Perhaps most shockingly, the greatest risk of gun violence to women around the world is not on the streets, or the battlefield, but in their own homes. Women are three times more likely to die violently if there is a gun in the house. Usually the perpetrator is a spouse or partner, often with a prior record of domestic abuse. Gun violence can be part of the cycle of intimidation and aggression that many women experience from an intimate partner. For every woman killed or physically injured by firearms, many more are threatened. This is why IANSA has launched a campaign to demand policies which would keep women safe from gun violence.

Campaign Aims and Objectives
The main goal is to ensure that anyone with a history of domestic abuse is denied access to a firearm, and has their license revoked.

Progress so far ...

USA: Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Call to Back Firearms Bill 2010 (SF 2357)

This legislation is of critical importance to save women’s lives because firearms are the most commonly used method in domestic abuse related murders. According to the Death Review Executive Summary, 63.7% of domestic violence related deaths in 2007-2008 were caused by firearms. The Iowa Attorney General's Crime Victim Assistance Division reports that 108 Iowans have been killed by firearms in domestic violence murders since 1995.

UK: Raising awareness of the dangers of guns in the home

The Infer Trust, a national registered charity raising awareness of the problems associated with gun misuse involving both legally and illegally held guns, is providing advice, support and networking opportunities for those affected by gun violence including armed domestic violence.

Namibia: Deputy Prime Minister calls for stricter controls

The campaign is raising awareness at high levels in Namibia. During a Parliamentary debate on the Draft Defence Policy on 11 February 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila said that the issuing of firearm licences should be stricter, because of reports of women being shot by their boyfriends or husbands.

Colombia: Widespread support in Cali and Bogotá

15,000 signatures in support of the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign were collected in November 2009. Proposals were also put to Congress about regulating the possession of firearms by those with a history of domestic violence.

Argentina: Women account for over 50% of gun deaths

Between 1997 and 2005, women accounted for 58% of homicides and 24.9% of suicides that were committed with firearms.

Malawi: Survey results - 20% of women experienced armed domestic violence

The Centre for Conflict Management and Women Development Affairs (CECOWDA) in conjunction with Peoples Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP) completed a small survey in September 2009.

Campaign highlights from The Advocacy Project, 2009

Summaries from: Argentina: Asociación para Politicas Públicas; Canada: Project Ploughshares; Colombia: Colectivo Mujeres Pazificas; Namibia: Breaking the Wall of Silence; Nepal: SAP Nepal; Portugal: Centre for Peace Studies/Observatory on Gender and Armed Violence; Serbia: Victimology Society of Serbia; and Uganda: The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CECORE).

Disarm Domestic Violence: Key initial findings, October 2009

The results from the first seven countries illustrate why the campaign is so important. They show a worrying pattern, in which guns are routinely used to threaten, intimidate and facilitate violence against women in the home.

USA: Disarm Domestic Violence: A matter of life or death

This briefing on the US context was used during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2009) in the USA.

South Africa: Disarm Domestic Violence - Submission to Parliament

In October 2009, IANSA women from Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre (TLAC) and the Ceasefire Campaign submitted a joint submission to the South African Parliament on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) relating to firearms.

Canada: The situation in Canada

This paper, published in the Autumn 2009 edition of the Ploughshares Monitor, summarises the Canadian context.

Canada: Plea to resist the relaxation of Canada's gun laws

An open letter from The Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) to David J. McGunity, the MP for Ottawa South, to urge him to work to meet international obligations to protect women and children from gun violence by resisting efforts to relax Canada’s gun laws.

Submissions to the UN Commission on the Status of Women

In August 2009 IANSA members from Argentina, Colombia, Namibia and Portugal submitted communications to the UN Commission on the Status of Women to highlight how armed domestic violence fundamentally affects women's human rights.

Argentina: Submission to CEDAW on armed domestic violence

IANSA members Asociación para Políticas Públicas (APP) submitted a list of critical issues in relation to armed domestic violence to the CEDAW Committee to raise with the government of Argentina which was reporting at the 46th CEDAW session, 10-14 August 2009.