SMALL ARMS AND CHILDREN: Preliminary Meeting on Activities

Summary: Held in New York, on April 19, 2001,
Activities discussed include:
- June Prepcom on Special Session
for Children;
- Themeatic day at July Conference;
- Political activities on the issue. SMALL ARMS AND CHILDREN: Preliminary Meeting on Activities

New York, April 19, 2001.
Present: Mary Diaz (Women’s Commission), Lu Ecclestone
(IANSA), David Jackman (QUNO), Kevin Joseph (QUNO), Lieke van
de Wiel (UNICEF), Dominick Donald (Otunnu’s office), Nadia Sood.

By Phone: Rachel Stohl (CDI), Michael Crowley (BASIC)

1. JUNE PREPCOM ON SPECIAL SESSION FOR CHILDREN

The basic activity is a BRIEFING TO NGOs present for the
prepcom. The
content will be much as Lora indicated in her email. Mary reported
that
UNICEF is the Secretariat for the prepcom. Mary has requested a
conference room (hopefully one with translation, amplification and
audio-video capacity. The date is Wednesday, June 13 in the
lunch slot,
1:15 - 2:45 PM. (We would also need to attend a morning caucus
meeting
to advertise the briefing.

We think there should be several speaking roles in the briefing:
· A high profile person to attract and audience e.g., Otunnu
(Dominick
checks), Carol Bellamy (UNICEF), Romeo D’Allaire, Ambassador
Dos Santos
· A person from an affected region: Inbrahim Sesay (via Womens
Commission or Otunnu’s office) or one of the youth reps brought
by
World Vision, Oxfam, Care or others; or a former child soldier now
in
USA (via Mary or Rachel)
· Main speakers on small arms situation and lobbying points: Lora
L. on
arms and Rachel S. on impact on children.

We agreed with Lora’s suggestion regarding RESOURCES to be
provided:
1) lobby talking points on both Special Session and Conference
(Lora
and Rachel provide);
2) July conference description (Lu provides);
3) DDA brochure and other standard handouts (Lu provides).

We will need to check with the Canadian gov. organizers to see
what their plans are for activity on their study. Hey may have a
high-level speaker available, or other specific plans (Lieke will
check)

ACTION:
· Mary to confirm conference room; check on Ibrahim Sesay;
· Mary or Rachel: check on child soldier now in USA;
· Dominick checks on Otunnu’s availability;
· Lieke checks on Carol Bellamy availability; Canadian government
plans;

· Lora: confirm as presenter, write short lobby demands for
Conference;
· Rachel: confirm as presenter; write short lobby demands on SS
· Lu: resources on conference and small arms for info packs

2. THEMATIC DAY AT JULY CONFERENCE

We are requesting clearance to use a day within the high-level
segment
in the first week of the conference. Lu cannot yet confirm this.

We saw three main kinds of activity:

A. The FORMAL LAUNCH OF THE CANADIAN IMPACT STUDY (this
includes a
lunch time and evening event) There would be two Canadian gov.
ministers
(Foreign and Development) and also D’Allaire. The Canadian
planners have
not yet announced their plans for these two information activities
Michael or Rachel or Lieke will need to get the info from the
Canadians

B. A MAJOR PUBLIC/MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT EVENT, perhaps at
the UN GA
entrance area. We considered the possibility of hiring a special
event
coordinator (Mary to get info); UNICEF could check on locations,
restrictions, permission, available dates.

This event would include:
-- one or more CELEBRITY FIGURES such as Julie Andrews (via
Peter
Davies); Brazilian Rap star (va Otunnu office or Viva Rio); Spike
Lee
(via War Child/ Greg Puley), Nane Annan (via ?); Umma Thurman
(via
Nadia?); Pierce Brosnan or Anna Paquin (via UNICEF)
[In later brainstorming we wondered if anyone has contact with a
prominent Children’s entertainment figure such as Mr. Rogers, the
Muppets, or others outside North America?
-- The PRESENTATION OF LETTERS, STORIES, PICTURES from
IANSA Global Days
of Action in previous month all received by a celebrity and by
some UN
figure connected with the conference process. Also Rachel has a
list of
celebrities that have shown support on gun issues.
-- an ARMS DESTRUCTION OR (TOY) ARMS EXCHANGE;

3. POLITICAL ACTIVITY on the Issues: This might include:
-- asking states inside the conference to make statement during
the
session to note the NGO events outside.
-- releasing a special press statement from the event;
-- contact reporters who have already covered this issue and
seeking
their presence on the thematic day.

IMPORTANT: We clearly have some interested NGOs engaged
with these
ideas, but we still need a clear expression of interest and
responsibility from one or two NGOs with the capacity to organize
and
fund this kind of large event. ANY VOLUNTEERS?

ACTION:
· Lu: confirm date for Thematic day; make link to Global Day of
Action
· Michael or Rachel or Lieke will get the info from the Canadians on
their plans for launch;
· Rachel: provide list of celebrities already contacted;
· Mary: info and contact on professional event coordinator;
· Peter Davies, Greg Puley, Dominick, Nadia, Lieke: check on
availability of various celebrities