Children Call The Goverrnment to Disarm

"Everybody knows the damages of the arms in our lives. The weapons wounded so many people, killed so many people, and burnt the hearts of so many mothers. The weapons shouldn't be used for any reason. I want deep in my heart that in our country, in our world no one uses weapons for any cause," says 12 years old Safiye from Istanbul, who has painted a picture for disarmament.

Taking the occasion of national “Children’s Holiday” Amnesty International Turkish Section, sends 728 pictures on disarmament, drawn and painted by primary school children, to the Turkish Prime Minister.

"In a world where a person is killed by a small arm every minute, some children cannot even enjoy the festivities of 23 April,” says AI media worker Ozlem Dalkıran, mentioning 12 year-old, school children Ugur Kaymaz from southeast Kiziltepe, Mardin,, who lost his life with point-blank shooting during a police raid.

A letter accompanied the drawings, calling for Turkey to support the International Arms Trade Treaty was also sent to the Prime Minister Erdogan.

The Arms Trade Treaty aims to establish an international mechanism of monitoring and registering the international arms transfers to prevent human rights violations and abuses. AI members called everyone to put pressure on their governments for the same aim.