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IPPNW students and friends,

Below follows the speech IPPNW international student representative Ogebe Onazi gave at an IANSA panel on Armed Violence at Arms Trade Treaty PrepCom at the United Nations in New York City.

Enjoy!

Webmaster

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Thank you madam chair for that humorous introduction,

my fellow panellist,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.

It is an honour to speak on behalf of IPPNW and the IANSA network today at the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty second Preparatory Committee Meeting.

I am convinced that if an ATT is to make a meaningful impact on the ground it has to address the health and humanitarian impact of illicit and irresponsible arms transfers.

I am one of the people who have to treat victims of gun violence, and heal the physical and mental wounds left by these weapons. When someone arrives in my emergency room, I don’t know if the gun or bullet is legal or illegal; all I know is that the person is bleeding and I try to save a life.

I am a Physician from   Nigeria, a country situated in the global South. According to the World Health organization there is 1 doctor for every 2500 people in Nigeria and this compares to one doctor for every 370 people in the United States. This disparity demonstrates the severe lack of human resources to meet the health demands of the people in my country. Despite the heavy burden of disease including malaria, HIV and tuberculosis, resources for health care are chronically scarce; and every time resources are used to treat gun injuries, they are diverted from preventing communicable disease and malnutrition, maternal & child health care, and other critical public health services.

The expertise of the medical community is an important resource to join with expert from other fields including experts in criminal justice, security and defence on the issue of gun violence. Our voices are also important because we are the ones who are asked to bind the wounds and rehabilitate those traumatized by gun violence.

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Dear Colleagues,

We hereby introduce the new student liaison- Semih Kucukcankurtaran, of the Turkish Student Chapter. His good connection with IFMSA & other Youth Organizations was key to this selection.

We expect Semih to fulfill the listed roles of a Student Liaison as follows:

1. Work out partnerships with other student/youth organizations 
2. Maintain these contacts/partnerships 
3. Keep the ISRs & the IPPNW student movement updated on this partnerships/contacts on a monthly basis
4. Represent the ISRs in key meetings,particularly meetings with other organizations, where the ISR's absence is inevitable

Best Wishes,

Leila & Ogebe
Co-ISRs