International Action Network on Small Arms

The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) began in August 1998 at a Toronto meeting of 33 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from 18 countries. It was formed as a network of campaigns against small arms and light weapons (SALW). By 2010, the network included 800 civil society organizations working in 120 countries. SALW are weapons that can be carried and used by one or two people. While the majority of both SALW users and victims are men, women suffer in their interference with provision of basic needs and in being forced to endure rape, sexual violence, and slavery. Women are more likely to die violently when there is a gun in the house. For these reasons, the IANSA Women's Network was created in 2001, focusing ...