11/27/2012 Every minute a human being dies from the force of arms. More than 70 percent of these victims are killed by small weapons. The social and health effects of the global small arms trade are the main issue of an international IPPNW congress taking place in Villingen-Schwenningen from May 30 to June 2, 2013, in collaboration with the German campaign „Aktion Aufschrei – Stoppt den Waffenhandel“. “At our congress in the Neuen Tonhalle we will discuss the social, psychological and medical implications of small arms production and trade. At the same time we want to use this forum to coordinate further activities and to develop perspectives to reduce the production and distribution of these weapons”, says IPPNW board member Dr Helmut Lohrer.
Beside lectures held by well-respected experts, a protest rally at small arms company Heckler & Koch in Oberndorf is part of the programme. The congress is organised by the German IPPNW affiliate and the city of Villingen-Schwenningen.
With several thousand members in more than 60 countries IPPNW campaigns for a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons. For this commitment, in 1985, the non-profit organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“I’m glad, we managed to win such an outstanding conference for the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. For decades, regardless of all social and political boundaries, IPPNW has struggled for a peaceful world without weapons and, as a city, we gladly support this exemplary project”, mayor Dr Rupert Kubon explains.
For further information about the congress see online under www. human-target.org and www. zielscheibe-mensch.org.
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