According to The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) approximately 740,000 people die as a result of armed violence each year.

With the wide support to the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development the international community has acknowledged that armed violence and conflict impede the realization of the millennium development goals by breeding insecurity, fear and terror, destroying lives and livelihoods, burdening health services, weakening the rule of law, imposing enormous costs on states, communities and individuals, closing schools, emptying markets, destroying families, preventing humanitarian assistance from reaching people in need and permanently threatening the respect of human rights.

DDG approach to Armed Violence Reduction
Acknowledging that communities and individuals are also affected by other threats to human security than landmines and unexploded ordnances, DDG has developed a comprehensive armed violence reduction approach to reduce the impact of conflict and armed violence by also reducing other threats to human security, such as small arms and light weapons. By enhancing human security and community safety, through armed violence reduction initiatives, DDG help create the preconditions for a sustained peace.

Addressing the root causes – not just “the gun”
While it is important to address the supply and proliferation of weapons, it is crucial to address the demand for weapons and the reasons why communities resort to armed violence. Fundamental to DDG’s approach is therefore a bottom up approach mobilising and engaging communities and facilitating a strong link to development – both factors that helps create sustainability and durable solutions.