Join the Global Coalition for WHO Action on Gun Violence
As gun violence in SA reaches levels last seen in the late 1990s and the country’s health system struggles to cope, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Global Coalition for WHO Action on Gun Violence.

In summary

  • The Global Coalition for WHO Action on Gun Violence is calling for the World Health Organization (WHO) to reprioritise firearm violence in its violence prevention work.
  • The Coalition currently consists of over 100 organisations and networks from more than 40 countries.
  • The Coalition will officially launch on 10 February at 4pm, link to register for launch: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XwNO4JD6RyeKFAB5-Wl4lg
  • More information on the Coalition, including how to become a partner, is available here: https://whoaction.org/

Detail

The WHO Action Coalition (fully named the Global Coalition for WHO Action on Gun Violence) is underpinned by research into the extent to which the WHO has addressed gun violence in its work. The research (which is based on analysis, reviews and interviews) found that following a strong focus in the early 2000s, the WHO has steadily deprioritised gun violence over the last fifteen years, including in specially developed interventions to prevent violence against women and children.

We are launching the research and WHO Action Coalition globally on 10 February to call on the WHO to prioritise gun violence, provide clear guidance to all 193 WHO Member States and begin the process of a gun-focused treaty that draws on the successes of WHO’s 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Coalition is currently inviting key organisations that are fundamentally affected by the high rates of gun violence to join as partners. Gun Free South Africa and the University of Cape Town’s Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences are among the founding partners of this global initiative, which brings together nearly 100 organisations from more than 40 countries. Other South African member organisations include the Foundation for Professional Development; Lawyers for Human Rights; Lifeline Durban; Matchboxology; MOSAIC Training, Service & Healing Centre; National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities; National Shelter Movement of South Africa; Sonke Gender Justice; the Trauma Society of South Africa; Stellenbosch University’s Peacebuilding and Risk Unit; and the University of Cape Town’s Division for Social & Behavioural Sciences; Gender, Health & Justice Research Unit; Safety & Violence Initiative; and Trauma Unit, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences.

We would be delighted if your organisation would consider joining the call for WHO leadership on gun violence, find out more here: https://whoaction.org/take-action/

World Health Organisation call to action:

  1. Reaffirm and resource WHO leadership on firearm violence prevention: Prioritise firearm violence as a preventable public-health issue; allocate sustained human and financial resources; and ensure institutional coordination across departments and regions.
  2. Strengthen health-sector responses and the continuum of care: Integrate firearm-injury and suicide prevention across emergency, trauma and rehabilitation systems, and expand hospital- and community-based violence-intervention programmes.
  3. Integrate firearm violence into WHO’s core frameworks: Embed firearm-violence prevention within INSPIRE, RESPECT and LIVE LIFE, ensuring firearm homicide, suicide and injury are central to global violence- and injury-prevention strategies.
  4. Address gender-based and youth firearm violence: Prioritise firearm-related femicide and coercive control against women, and firearm deaths among adolescent boys and young men—who are overwhelmingly both the primary victims and perpetrators of firearm violence and suicide—through gender-transformative and youth-engagement approaches.
  5. Protect health professionals and first responders: Work with Member States to improve occupational safety, trauma-informed care and psychosocial support for those treating or exposed to firearm violence.
  6. Advance research, data and surveillance: Establish or support a global observatory on firearm morbidity and mortality, harmonise injury-coding systems and close research gaps on gender, age, race, region and long-term health impacts.
  7. Leverage the forthcoming World Report on Commercial Determinants of Health to further strengthen gun violence prevention efforts and public health interventions.
  8. Promote policy coherence across international frameworks: Support Member States in linking public-health, human-rights and arms-control agendas by aligning with relevant global and regional mechanisms.
  9. Champion a World Health Assembly resolution on firearm violence: Encourage Member States to adopt a WHA resolution that mandates multisectoral action and mobilises resources for prevention, research and survivor support.
  10. Provide communication and advocacy guidance: Develop evidence-based tools and messaging to advance gun violence prevention and counter misinformation—drawing on lessons from other public health initiatives.