October 23, 2007...9:08 pm
The Peoples’ Consultation
My name is Vavine Gabi and I have flown thousands of miles from my country to tell UN delegates about my experience of armed violence. My mother was shot dead in front of me eight years ago, just after my sixteenth birthday. She has been in my thoughts every day since then, but i felt her presence particularly strongly yesterday, as I prepared to give a speech to urge states to push for a strong ATT.The event I spoke at was organized by Control Arms to highlight the achievements of the People’s Consultation. I spoke with two other survivors of armed violence – Widad Akrawi from Iraq and Nancy Claude from Haiti.It’s not easy talking about the worst thing that has ever happened to you. But I wanted the States to know about the effect my mother’s death has had on our lives. I had practiced my speech for days – but my stomach was a bag of butterflies. I placed a photo of my mum in front of me to keep me strong and focused.I come from Papua New Guinea – a country with one of the highest rates of armed violence in the world. I told the delegates and journalists how we had been driving down the highway to visit our village when a car blocked our way. Six men climbed out and ambushed us, robbing us of all we had. When they asked for more, my mother simply said that they had taken everything. With that, one of the men put a gun to her head and shot her at close range. She died two days later. I wanted the ambassadors and journalists there to know that there was a lot of blood. I wanted to them to know how I felt when I saw her body wheeled in. And I wanted them to know that even today, it is painful for me and my brothers and sisters to see our aunties with their children.
It was hard to hear the other women’s testimonies. Widad’s best friend had been shot dead for her political views; Nancy was shot in the leg and her daughter was kidnapped at gunpoint.
But I felt great sense of achievement after my speech. I had to make sure that I delivered my speech effectively - and without crying! I had to be strong. I wanted to make my voice heard – both as a survivor of gun violence, and as an activist against uncontrolled arms.
1 Comment
October 28, 2007 at 2:44 am
Vavine, you are a very brave and strong individual. It must have been very painful to come this far to leave thru everyday without your mum who is ever around to see you grow up and prosper in the dreams that you may have always dreamed off.
It is a great achievement to present your story on this very important Conference Control Arms has organized.
We hear daily about gun violence. There is no safe place where one can enjoy life to it’s fullest.
Where and who do you turn to when you know that murders and killers are still on the road? Who will be the next innocent victim? What is the law doing?
With all these questions never answered do we leave every day with the fear of been the next victim?
I commend the Gun Control Committee for the initive taken to combat gun violence today.
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