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Specialists on small arms, such as Kuniko Inoguchi, former Ambassador of
Japan to the Conference on Disarmament, and Jinichi Matsumoto, author of “Kalashnikov -
AK47” will
come together for the international conference of NGOs in Tokyo.
Anyone interested in problems concerning small arms and child soldiers,
peace building, and international cooperation is welcome to participate.
We look forward to seeing everyone there.
Proliferation of small arms and light weapons, such as pistols and landmines,
has been causing serious problems all over the world. Over 500 thousand
people are killed by small arms every year. UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi
Annan calls them “another weapon of mass destruction.” The
reduction and control of small arms is an urgent task for people around
the world.
At the international conference of NGOs in Tokyo, panelists will report
and discuss the present situation surrounding small arms, as well as counteractions
taken by NGOs, governments, and the United Nations. We will explore ways
in which NGOs can cooperate with the United Nations and governments around
the world to reduce and control small arms.
Let us send out a message to reduce and control small arms and protect
our children from being used as weapons of war.
| Conference Title |
"A
Farewell to Small Arms”
The International Conference of NGOs in TOKYO |
| Date/Time |
May 7th, 2005 Conference: 10:00 - 17:00
May 8th, 2005 Conference: 9:30 – 17:00 |
| Venue |
Sophia University, Yotsuya Campus,
Building No. 10(3-minute-walk from Yotsuya Stn, JR Line) |
| Program |
Please click here. |
| Languages used |
Japanese and English (with simultaneous interpretation) |
| Fee |
2,000 yen (1,000 yen for students)
*Prior registration necessary |
| Registration |
Please call 03-5423-4511 |
| Hosted by |
Association for Aid and Relief, Japan |
| Chaired by |
Kuniko Inoguchi (former
Ambassador of Japan to the Conference on Disarmament)
Fusako Yanase (Chairperson, Association
for Aid and Relief, author of “A Plead from Sunny,
Not mines, but Flowers/Peace is not Enough” and “A
Farewell to Small Arms”)
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| Supported by |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan,
UN Information Center, Japan Committee for UNICEF, The Asahi
Shimbun, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, JICA
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| Funded by |
The Tokyo Club, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation |
| Cooperation from |
Sophia University, REUTERS Japan |
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| Small
Arms and Light Weapons |
Small
arms and light weapons are weapons, such as pistols and heavy
machine guns, that can be carried by an individual or by several
persons. They are circulated without control, and recklessly
used by people even after wars are over. There are estimated
to be over 500 million small arms and light weapons around
the world. That means one out of every 12 people, from babies
to elders, own a small weapon.
There are 1,400 victims of small
arms every day, over 500 thousand per year, and 70 percent
of these victims are women and children. The lightness of
these weapons (some of them as light as 3 kg) and their easiness
to use lead to the exploitation of child soldiers. Children
under the age of ten are handed guns and told to fight. 2
million children have been killed by small arms in the last
10 years, and many more have been seriously injured.
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