- 1. 2014 Regional Review Conferences on the Geneva Declaration
on Armed Violence and Development Wednesday 19 February 2014,
13:00-14:30 Room XXIII, E Building, Palais des Nations2014 Regional
Review Conferences on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and
Development Wednesday 19 February, Palais des Nations, Room
XXIII
2. At the 2011 Geneva Declaration 2nd Ministerial Review
Conference, with 80 civil society groups present, the process to
establish a global alliance on armed violence began. An Interim
Committee was selected and met in April 2012 to establish the
structure and function of the Alliance. Background 3. UN
Photo/Tobin Jones GAAV Interim Committee The Interim Committee (IC)
represents a broad range of regions, areas of work, and experience
in armed violence, including the following organizations: Action on
Armed Violence (UK) Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (Philippines)
Danish Demining Group (Denmark) Handicap International IKV Pax
Christi (Netherlands) Instituto Sou da Paz (Brazil) Quaker United
Nations Office National Working Group on Armed Violence (Nigeria)
4. UN Photo/Stuart Price About GAAV vision A world where people and
communities are safe from armed violence. mission To provide a
global platform that helps to improve the quality, impact and
visibility of local, national, regional and international
initiatives to prevent and reduce armed violence. objectives To
create a whole of society approach to armed violence reduction and
prevention (AVRP). To improve the quality and scale of resources
given to local and national initiatives on AVRP. To disseminate
effective practices and strengthen networking and advocacy on AVRP.
5. Our Members GAAV brings together over 100 actors worldwide
working to prevent and reduce armed violence, from community to
global policy levels. GAAV Members are mostly CSOs and NGOs, and
include community-based organisations, faith-based groups, regional
and national networks, academic institutions and government bodies.
GAAV members represent a broad spectrum of AVRP initiatives from
weapons control and management, survivors rights and
rehabilitation, work with gangs and criminal groups, to conflict
prevention and peace building. 6. I) Working Groups Policy &
Programme Solutions Thematic and geographic Working Groups are the
main bodies of the alliance, allowing GAAV Members to interact on
common issues, forge solutions, and build a solid base of best
practice. II) Advocacy and Communications GAAVs advocacy and
communications aim to provide a united voice for AVRP practitioners
and a platform to disseminate best practice. III) Capacity Building
& Knowledge Exchange GAAV plans to offer a member-driven
knowledge exchange platform to strengthen national and local
capacities of practitioners. This initiative will support
development of members technical and practical skills, as well as
fostering exchange of relevant policy and programming experience,
and provide opportunities for south-south cooperation. GAAV Pillars
of Work 7. Civil society participation In partnership with the
Geneva Declaration Secretariat, GAAV is conducting outreach and
coordinating a selection process for civil society participation at
the RRCs. Civil society activities at GD RRCs GAAV will be hosting
civil society events on the side-lines of the GD RRCs. For the
Americas RRC, and via its working group on Understanding the
Problem, GAAV plans to conduct training to familiarise participants
with tools to measure and monitor armed violence, including a
comprehensive template for national reporting on armed violence
(GAAV is seeking co-funding for this activity). Preparatory events
will also provide space for dialogue on the post-2015 development
framework and an overview of conference agendas. GAAV & the GD
Regional Review Conferences 2014 8. Engagement in post-2015
development agenda & issues relevant to Geneva Declaration
Through its working group on Armed Violence & Development, GAAV
is engaging practitioners in a dialogue to develop ideas on ways to
integrate armed violence reduction targets and indicators in goals
of the post-2015 development agenda. GAAV will continue to engage
CSOs and other actors in areas relevant to the Geneva Declaration,
via our working groups and other activities. Continued.. 9. UN
Photo/Tobin Jones GD RRCs are important forums to: Take stock of
progress and strengthen political will of governments and
international organisations to invest in and advance armed violence
reduction agendas. Build partnerships and improve coordination for
multi-stakeholder responses to regional and cross-border armed
violence trends and challenges. Explore ways to create enabling
policy environments nationally and strengthen international
frameworks, including the post-2015 development agenda, to reduce
and prevent armed violence. Why are the GD RRCs important to civil
society? 10. For more information visit Global Alliance on Armed
Violence www.allianceonarmedviolence.org Geneva Declaration
www.genevadeclaration.org/2014rrc/ contact Nicola Williams
Coordinator Global Alliance on Armed Violence s: nikki.s.williams22
e: [email protected]