Disarmament week was held during October from 24-30th.
This campaign has been marked globally since 1978.
The original focus of Disarmament Week was on the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
Over the years the devastation caused by small arms and light weapons has increasingly been recognised – roughly 54% of homicides worldwide in 2017 were perpetrated with a firearm, and about 22% were perpetrated with a sharp object.
The inclusion of small arms and light weapons in disarmament efforts has been significantly strengthened by the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As the world marked Disarmament Week, Parliament announced that a national firearms amnesty – the fourth in the country’s history – will be held later this year.
According to a report on gun control in South Africa over 25 years, which was launched to commemorate Disarmament Week, gun control saves lives.
Firearm amnesties are an important component of effective gun control.