MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

THEME 3
to be provided to survivors of armed violence. Of equal concern is the
healing of trauma associated with the violence, and ensuring a return to
a productive life. This is often identified as a priority by survivors. Also,
ensuring access to appropriate services entails not only the existence of
those services, but also some support to ensure access by those individuals
in need. This can take the form of specific funds, as developed in El
Salvador for example.
5. Promote support for programmes designed to prevent armed violence.
Working to end gun violence in the first place is the most cost-effective and
obvious way to limit injuries and disabilities. There are many approaches
that have been shown to be effective in preventing violence, particularly
small arms violence, but these are often not prioritised or funded. There
is a need to develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of these
programmes in settings with high rates of gun violence.
6. Support ratification and implementation of the Convention on the
Right of Persons with Disabilities. This new Convention fills an important
gap in pushing for recognition and realisation of the rights of people
with disabilities. Parliamentarians should ensure that it comes before parliament
for ratification, and work to review and adapt legislation to ensure
implementation of its provisions.
Contributors to the original version of this chapter include Cate Buchanan,
Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue; Emile LeBrun, consultant. Comments
and suggestions were received from Dr. Olive Kobusingye, World Health
Organisation Regional Office for Africa; Dr. Paul Kowal, World Health Organisation;
Dr. David Meddings, World Health Organisation; Rebecca Peters,
International Action Network on Small Arms; Paul Vermeulen, Handicap
International; Dr. Andrés Villaveces, University Hospital Geneva; Camilla
Waszink, International Committee of the Red Cross.
ESSENTIAL READING
Buchanan, Cate and Mireille Widmer (2006), The Skeleton in the Closet:
Survivors of Armed Violence, RevCon Policy Brief, June. Available at:
www.hdcentre.org/UN+process+on+small+arms+control
Butchart A, Check P, Villaveces A (2004), Preventing violence: a guide to
implementing the recommendations of the World report on violence and
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