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Abstract
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he proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a common civil-war legacy, often thought to exacerbate post-conf lict insecurity and instability within a country and beyond its borders.1 SA/LW proliferation is a potentially sensitive and dynamic issue for international nongovernmental organizations to address; this issue becomes more difficult in the immediate aftermath of war and major uprisings.
The 2011 uprising in Libya and the accompanying influx of SA/LW into civilian communities prompted DanChurchAid to evaluate the SA/LW situation in Libya. 2 A recent field assessment undertaken by DCA in Misrata determined that, within the areas visited and at the time of the assess- ment, SA/LW were not contributing to insecurity in the political or criminal sense. However, DCA found that SA/LW did represent an immediate threat to personal security and should be the legitimate focus of humanitarian efforts to reduce the risks to civilians.
SA/LW in Misrata Misrata saw some of the heaviest fighting in the 2011 Libyan uprising. Under the Moammar Gadhafi regime, few people were authorized to own small arms apart from some hunters and farmers. However, the events of 2011 caused the civilian population to acquire a large and unknown number of SA/LW via combat, stockpile seizure or the black market.
At a macro-level, Misrata was secured in late 2011. Interviews with authorities and community leaders suggest that crime rates are negligible, and the inevitable maneu- vering of local political factions is peaceful and nonviolent. DCA found that a considerable amount of social control exists to regulate individual behavior around SA/LW and mitigate some of the potential negatives of weapons ownership. A number of sources pointed to heavy regulation. The brigades, known as khatiba, reportedly have a large number of SA/LW. One hundred eighty-six brigades of approximately 50 members each are registered with the Misrata Military Council. During the uprising, prospective weapons owners were required to enroll with a brigade and register their firearm. This data for most, if not all, SA/LW would greatly benefit any future attempt to collect and control these weapons. Brigades exert some control as they only allow their members to carry their weapons "on duty" (e.g., staffing a checkpoint) and they plan to centralize members' SA/LW into stockpiles. Religious leaders are another source of control. Speaking on radio broadcasts and during Friday prayer, the Imams condemned the practice of celebratory gunfire. It is largely due to their influence that the practice has become less common; this influence was evident by the virtually gunshot-free, public...
Risk-taking Behavior Celebratory gunfire. Numerous reports cite people being wounded and killed during bouts of celebratory gunfire. Growing recognition of this danger and the strong advocacy of Imams and transitional authorities against the practice significantly decreased its frequency.
Mishandling ammunition. In addition to hearing numerous reports, DCA witnessed children playing with ammuni- tion, fuzes and grenades. Teachers report that children bring ammunition to school and try to remove the gunpowder. Ammunition is often thrown into fires for its explosive effect. Only a few days prior to this assessment, a young girl was seriously injured because her brother was playing in this way
Children playing with small arms. Firearms, unless securely stored, represent a particular threat to curious children. Grenades and other explosive devices pose a threat to the entire household regardless of how they are stored. While many men insisted they knew of and practiced safe-storage techniques, the majority of women interviewed believed their husbands and older sons were still unfamiliar with firearms and said the men frequently left weapons unattended and loaded. Notably, some households lack appropriate storage containers. Reports of accidents are rare but occur nonetheless. Although parents undoubtedly tell their children not to touch SA/LW, a discrepancy exists between safety messages and a wider culture in which weapons are celebrated as a means of defense and of defeating the regime. This is evidenced in television, public events and public discourse in general.
Local Outreach As described previously, individuals, civil society and transitional authorities in Libya are already active in controlling SA/LW misuse. DCA will continue to assist local authorities, governments and NGOs as they work to mitigate risk-taking behavior among civilians through a variety of capacities, including:
Imams. Imams in Misrata are organized through the Council of Mosques (Al awkaf ). The current leader, Sheikh Ahmed Dowa, met with DCA and has the authority to guide the content of the sermon at Friday prayers across all Mosques in the city. Thousands of male adults and children hear these prayers. Based on the successful work of imams to discourage celebratory shooting, the Council of Mosques is keen to work with DCA to deliver a wider range of risk- education messages.
Teachers. State schoolteachers and Koranic schoolteachers are excellent influencers of children's behavior and subsequent- ly, their parents' behavior. DCA is working with schoolteach- ers to help provide psychosocial support to conflict-affected children and will build upon this initiative and network.
Radio stations. Radio broadcasts are highly influential and respected. Regular programs and drama sketches address the problem of celebratory shooting. The main station, Radio Misrata, operated throughout the conflict, and Gadhafi forces regularly attacked it due to its credibility with the local population. Interviews with women suggested that radio is perhaps the best medium for reaching mothers and wives who spend much of their time at home and are considered to be respon- sible for the home. Therefore, women have a key role to play in ensuring that weapons are stored safely...
Language: en |