"Working with victims and survivors of armed violence" Regional Review Conference on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development Geneva, Switzerland | 8-9 July 2014

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Surviving armed violence
Mireille Widmer
Surviving Gun Violence Project (SGVP)

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In the Geneva Declaration
Participating States agree to “recognize and ensure
the rights of victims of armed violence in a non-
discriminatory manner, including, inter alia, provision
for their adequate care and rehabilitation, as well as
their social and economic inclusion”
Second Ministerial Review Conference
on the Geneva Declaration, 2011, para. 10.e

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Definition
Survivors are defined as persons who, individually or
collectively, have suffered harm, including physical or
mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss, or
substantial diminution of their fundamental rights due
to the misuse of arms or explosives.
This includes, where appropriate, the immediate
family or dependants of the direct victim and persons
who have suffered harm in intervening to assist
victims in distress or to prevent victimisation.
Adapted from 1985 UN Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice
for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power

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The issue in numbers
740,000 people killed by armed violence every year
1-8 survivor for every fatality
42-60% of lethal violence committed with firearms

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The issue at a glance
Survivor
Justice
Procedural rights
•Legal aid
•Women’s desks
•Victim-friendly-procedures
Substantive rights
•Compensation
•Reparation
Perpetrators
Health care
Pre-hospital
•Trauma response
systems
Hospital
•Emergency trauma
care
•Rehabilitation
•Mental health
•Peer support
Post discharge
•Psychosocial
support
•Caregivers
Social
protection
Social security
•Disability
•Health
•Livelihoods
Social inclusion
•Political
•Social
•Cultural
•Economic
Employment
promotion
Material support
•Home adaptation
•Assistive devices

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Key points
 Look at survivors of armed violence, rather than of
particular weapons systems
 Need legislation, services, funding, and information
 Research needed
 Inclusion principle: “Nothing about us without us”

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Thank you
Mireille Widmer
www.survivinggunviolence.org