MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union
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THEME 3<br />
to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “[g]lobal data on the impact<br />
of small arms on the health of individuals are far from complete. What<br />
data is available, however, suggests that hundreds of thousands of people<br />
are killed each year by those weapons. Millions more survive their injuries<br />
but are left with permanent physical disabilities and mental health<br />
problems.” 3<br />
Injuries and permanent disabilities impede effective employment, wellbeing,<br />
and reintegration into community and family life. The long-term<br />
effects are not just physical, but include psychological impairment, depression,<br />
suicidal behaviour, and substance abuse. Victims of violence are also<br />
themselves at increased risk of committing violence against others. 4 This<br />
presents real challenges for national efforts to promote public safety and<br />
security. One study found that exposure to gun violence approximately<br />
doubles the probability that an adolescent will perpetrate serious violence<br />
over the two subsequent years. 5<br />
The combined fatal and non-fatal injuries due to the misuse of guns—<br />
in the hundreds of thousands per year—can impede or reverse hard-won<br />
development gains, and investments in education and health. Realising the<br />
value of such investment is critical to any nation’s future.<br />
Violence is among the leading causes of death for people aged 15-44<br />
years worldwide, accounting for 14% of deaths among males and 7% of<br />
deaths among females. 6 Young men are particularly vulnerable to death<br />
and injury in just about every setting: high-income and low-income, wartorn,<br />
peaceful or countries in transition, from intentional, accidental or<br />
self-directed gun violence.<br />
It is estimated that in 50 years time, there will be six-million men missing<br />
from the Brazilian population as a result of dying from homicide—<br />
the vast majority of these deaths are gun-related homicide. 7<br />
Women and girls require particular attention when thinking about assistance<br />
to survivors of gun violence, with well-documented vulnerability to<br />
sexual violence at gunpoint in all settings. Assistance in this case implies<br />
that law enforcement agencies, emergency health services and social services<br />
must be alerted to their special needs and trauma, and respond<br />
quickly and appropriately. The stigmatisation of victims of sexual violence<br />
also needs to be addressed urgently. This is an area where parliamentarians<br />
can work to ensure harmonised approaches across various sectors of<br />
government.<br />
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