Calendar
mywilpf
Donate

Celebrating Feminists’ Voices, Inspiring Global Peace

Back to all news

News

#WomenPeaceAndSecurity

Youth, firearms, and human rights: Read WILPF’s latest submission to the UN OHCHR

When young people have access to firearms, their own human rights, the rights of all those around them, and the very foundations of peace are all at significant risk.

A bright juicy white and red hunting target on a rusty metal wall. Close-up of a bullet target. Shooting target on metal wall with green paint, rust and bullet holes.
Image credit: WILPF
  • 3 min
WILPF International Secretariat
4 November 2021

Latest News

Written by

When young people have access to firearms, their own human rights, the rights of all those around them, and the very foundations of peace are all at significant risk. 

Governments must recognise these vast consequences and take immediate, ambitious action to address the root causes of firearms proliferation and their acquisition among children and youth. 

These are the key messages contained in a new submission to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) in October examining the human rights impact of firearms possession, acquisition, and use on youth. 

“WILPF has long argued and demonstrated that as long as firearms exist, legally or illegally, they will pose a threat to every single human right.”
– From WILPF’s October 2021 submission to the UNOHCHR

The submission was developed by WILPF’s disarmament and human rights programmes with input from WILPF Sections or partners in Colombia, Cameroon, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, Palestine, and Syria, as well as an informal partner in Italy and partners working on WILPF’s project on mobilising men for feminist peace. 

In the submission, the partners examine the impacts of firearms possession on children, youth, adults, and communities and explore the systemic factors influencing young people’s access to and use of these weapons. 

For example, the partners share research demonstrating that in areas with high rates of youth ownership of weapons, violence and human rights abuses – including gender-based violence, forced pregnancy, child marriage, and child labour – are significantly more likely to occur than in areas where youth do not commonly possess firearms. 

The submission also offers in-depth analysis on how concepts of violent masculinities influence ownership and use of arms among youth. 

“Traits such as power, toughness, courage, and virility, typically associated with manhood, were mentioned as reasons to own and use a firearm as a means to express these traits.”
– From WILPF’s October 2021 submission to the UNOHCHR

Describing the socially constructed ideals of masculinity – such as power, control, and domination – that boys and men are taught from an early age, the authors warn that gender norms are a major driver in the proliferation and use of weapons among boys and young men in particular. 

The authors observe that studies on the topic often highlight recurring root causes of violent masculinities, leading to the acquisition or use of firearms by children or youth – primarily socioeconomic conditions influenced by historical or political factors. 

At the end of the submission, the authors share a series of policy recommendations for steps governments must take to address the root causes of firearms proliferation and use among youth – including the need to involve youth as leaders in peace-building and decision-making processes that affect their lives. 

To read more on these points and other key topics related to youth and firearms – including firearms possession and use in schools and the marketing strategies used by firearms companies to appeal to children and youth – you are invited to access WILPF’s full submission to UN OHCHR. 

Share the post

WILPF International Secretariat

WILPF International Secretariat, with offices in Geneva and New York, liaises with the International Board and the National Sections and Groups for the implementation of WILPF International Programme, resolutions and policies as adopted by the International Congress. Under the direction of the Secretary-General, the Secretariat also provides support in areas of advocacy, communications, and financial operations.

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Linkedin

Berit Aasen

Europe Alternate Regional Representative

Berit Aasen is a sociologist by training and has worked at the OsloMet Metropolitan University on Oslo. She has 40 years of experience in research and consultancy in development studies, including women, peace, and security, and in later years in asylum and refugee studies. Berit Aasen joined WILPF Norway five years ago. She is an alternate member of the National Board of WILPF Norway, and representing WILPF Norway in the UN Association of Norway, the Norwegian 1325 network and the Norwegian Women’s Lobby. Berit Aasen has been active in the WILPF European Liaison group and is committed to strengthening WILPF sections and membership both in Europe and relations across continents.

Your donation isn’t just a financial transaction; it’s a step toward a more compassionate and equitable world. With your support, we’re poised to achieve lasting change that echoes through generations. Thank you!

Thank you!

Melissa Torres

VICE-PRESIDENT

Prior to being elected Vice-President, Melissa Torres was the WILPF US International Board Member from 2015 to 2018. Melissa joined WILPF in 2011 when she was selected as a Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women as part of the WILPF US’ Practicum in Advocacy Programme at the United Nations, which she later led. She holds a PhD in Social Work and is a professor and Global Health Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and research lead at BCM Anti-Human Trafficking Program. Of Mexican descent and a native of the US/Mexico border, Melissa is mostly concerned with the protection of displaced Latinxs in the Americas. Her work includes training, research, and service provision with the American Red Cross, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Centre, and refugee resettlement programs in the U.S. Some of her goals as Vice-President are to highlight intersectionality and increase diversity by fostering inclusive spaces for mentorship and leadership. She also contributes to WILPF’s emerging work on the topic of displacement and migration.

Jamila Afghani

VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamila Afghani is the President of WILPF Afghanistan which she started in 2015. She is also an active member and founder of several organisations including the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organisation (NECDO). Elected in 2018 as South Asia Regional Representative to WILPF’s International Board, WILPF benefits from Jamila’s work experience in education, migration, gender, including gender-based violence and democratic governance in post-conflict and transitional countries.

Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo

PRESIDENT

Sylvie Jacqueline NDONGMO is a human rights and peace leader with over 27 years experience including ten within WILPF. She has a multi-disciplinary background with a track record of multiple socio-economic development projects implemented to improve policies, practices and peace-oriented actions. Sylvie is the founder of WILPF Cameroon and was the Section’s president until 2022. She co-coordinated the African Working Group before her election as Africa Representative to WILPF’s International Board in 2018. A teacher by profession and an African Union Trainer in peace support operations, Sylvie has extensive experience advocating for the political and social rights of women in Africa and worldwide.

WILPF Afghanistan

In response to the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and its targeted attacks on civil society members, WILPF Afghanistan issued several statements calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghan people and ensure that their rights be upheld, including access to aid. The Section also published 100 Untold Stories of War and Peace, a compilation of true stories that highlight the effects of war and militarisation on the region. 

IPB Congress Barcelona

WILPF Germany (+Young WILPF network), WILPF Spain and MENA Regional Representative

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris facilisis luctus rhoncus. Praesent eget tellus sit amet enim consectetur condimentum et vel ante. Nulla facilisi. Suspendisse et nunc sem. Vivamus ullamcorper vestibulum neque, a interdum nisl accumsan ac. Cras ut condimentum turpis. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Curabitur efficitur gravida ipsum, quis ultricies erat iaculis pellentesque. Nulla congue iaculis feugiat. Suspendisse euismod congue ultricies. Sed blandit neque in libero ultricies aliquam. Donec euismod eget diam vitae vehicula. Fusce hendrerit purus leo. Aenean malesuada, ante eu aliquet mollis, diam erat suscipit eros, in.

Demilitarisation

WILPF uses feminist analysis to argue that militarisation is a counter-productive and ill-conceived response to establishing security in the world. The more society becomes militarised, the more violence and injustice are likely to grow locally and worldwide.

Sixteen states are believed to have supplied weapons to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2020 with the US supplying 74 % of weapons, followed by Russia. Much of this equipment was left behind by the US military and is being used to inflate Taliban’s arsenal. WILPF is calling for better oversight on arms movement, for compensating affected Afghan people and for an end to all militarised systems.

Militarised masculinity

Mobilising men and boys around feminist peace has been one way of deconstructing and redefining masculinities. WILPF shares a feminist analysis on the links between militarism, masculinities, peace and security. We explore opportunities for strengthening activists’ action to build equal partnerships among women and men for gender equality.

WILPF has been working on challenging the prevailing notion of masculinity based on men’s physical and social superiority to, and dominance of, women in Afghanistan. It recognizes that these notions are not representative of all Afghan men, contrary to the publicly prevailing notion.

Feminist peace​

In WILPF’s view, any process towards establishing peace that has not been partly designed by women remains deficient. Beyond bringing perspectives that encapsulate the views of half of the society and unlike the men only designed processes, women’s true and meaningful participation allows the situation to improve.

In Afghanistan, WILPF has been demanding that women occupy the front seats at the negotiating tables. The experience of the past 20 has shown that women’s presence produces more sustainable solutions when they are empowered and enabled to play a role.