Gun Violence and Youth
During childhood, youth are shaped into the next generation of leaders. Health, education, and security are important elements in a child’s positive development. Unfortunately, each of these aspects of childhood is threatened every day by gun violence. This issue hinders the wellbeing of youth internationally and causes alarming rates of psychological damage, injury, and death. This preventable violence continues to harm one of the world’s most vulnerable and impressionable populations.
For some youth, the chance of being victimized by firearms begins before birth through violence against their pregnant mothers. According to the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS), “When a small arm is kept in the home, the probability that domestic violence will result in death or serious injury — for the mother and the child in utero — increases significantly” [1]. As children mature and are exposed to a wider range of people, their risk of being negatively impacted by firearms increases, especially for male children [2]. Children are also particularly vulnerable to being recruited into military forces either forcibly or by choice. Forty-six countries enlist youth under the age of 18 as indicated by the Child Soldiers World Index [3].
The United Nations is one intergovernmental organization concerned with the issue of youth and armed violence. According to the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (PoA), all UN Member States declare themselves concerned with the negative consequences of armed violence on youth and commit to address the “specific needs of children affected [by gun violence]”[4]. The POA “is a globally agreed framework for activities to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and control the negative consequences of small arms and light weapons” [5]. The United Nations implemented the Arms Trade Treaty in December 2014, which makes reference to youth once in Article 7.4 [6]. Though such legislation is in place, violence against youth persists year after year.
Nongovernmental organizations are also essential players in advocating for the rights of children. Two compelling speeches on the impact of armed violence on youth were made at the Third Review Conference of the Programme of Action (RevCon3). The first was made by Alex Galvez from the IANSA survivor’s network. Mr. Galvez spoke of becoming paraplegic at the age of 15 at the hand of senseless gun violence in Guatemala. Mei-Ling Ho Shing, survivor of the Parkland shooting that claimed the lives of 17 and injured 17 more students and staff last February, spoke soon after. Her speech captured the attention of nongovernmental organizations and delegates alike, asking the adults in the room, “please don’t let us down”. Other actions to decrease armed violence against youth are possible thanks to NGOs like IANSA and campaigns such as Wear Orange.
Gun violence poses a pervasive threat to people across all demographics, regardless of age, race, or gender. Certain components of gun violence call for international cooperation, while others require urgent and meaningful action on the national level. NGOs and average citizens can take action to pressure lawmakers and local leaders to create new policies to protect the lives of children and other groups threatened by gun violence. For more information about IANSA, visit https://iansa.org.
References
[1] “Children, Adolescents, Youth and Small Arms and Light Weapons.” International Control Standards on Small Arms06, no. 20. http://www.smallarmsstandards.org/isacs/0620-en.pdf.
[2] “Children, Adolescents, Youth and Small Arms and Light Weapons.” International Control Standards on Small Arms06, no. 20. http://www.smallarmsstandards.org/isacs/0620-en.pdf.
[3] Childsoldiersin. “Where Are Child Soldiers?” Child Soldiers International. Accessed August 06, 2018. https://www.child-soldiers.org/where-are-there-child-soldiers.
[4] “Children, Adolescents, Youth and Small Arms and Light Weapons.” International Control Standards on Small Arms06, no. 20. http://www.smallarmsstandards.org/isacs/0620-en.pdf.
[5] “Programme of Action.” UNRCPD. Accessed August 06, 2018. http://unrcpd.org/conventional-weapons/poa/.
[6] “Children, Adolescents, Youth and Small Arms and Light Weapons.” International Control Standards on Small Arms06, no. 20. http://www.smallarmsstandards.org/isacs/0620-en.pdf.
