Disarming of weapons, arming with skills

Gangs, guns and violence
“On the football field up there, people used to be hanged. Shot and hanged…”  (ACER)

“We can hardly imagine what could have happened if they went off during a corner kick…” (FFAV)

It is an old cliché to refer to sport as “a matter of life and death” but for some people it really is. The quotes above are evidence of that. However, some sport and development programmes directly target gang members offering them new outlets for their frustrations (sported.), others transform derelict battlegrounds in to playgrounds (FFAV) whilst others still offer young people a ball to hold rather than a weapon (Somali Youth League).

Defining disarmament
Let us be clear from the outset: sport cannot help world leaders reach resolutions on the international arms trade nor can it close down state uranium enrichment programmes. Let us be equally clear that when we talk of “disarmament” it does not just refer to drones and missiles but equally to handguns and knives. Disarmament covers all the factors that contribute to the arming of groups and individuals.

If a sports group recruits a child before a militia does that militia could be said to have been disarmed – disarmed of the human resource they need for their cause (War Child). Furthermore the “soft skills” sport inculcates such as developing relationships, humanising opponents and respecting rules can prevent participants from turning to lawlessness. Not to mention how sport can provide the shared identity, camaraderie and outlet for emotion that lead many to violence in the first place.

Disarmament Week
Disarmament Week (established 1978) begins annually on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN), 24 October, and runs until 30 October. The week highlights the danger of the arms race, calls for its cessation and increases public understanding of the urgent task of disarmament.

S&D as a sector might have been quieter this week than, say, the week surrounding World Peace Day but the actors are there and their praises should be sung. Spirit of Soccer’s mine risk education (MRE) programme, for example, has been equipping children with the skills to avoid land mine injuries since 1996.

Games, hope and futures
Disarmament then is not only about global agreements but also local alternatives. It is about creating boxing clubs that cultivate positive identities (Fight for Peace), reclaiming ganglands for their original purpose (ACER) and running campaigns that swap guns for jobs (Somali Youth League). If we take a wholesome view of “disarmament” sport has already proven its power. If these days and weeks and months of international observance are about awareness then we should observe that. Rather than re-iterating the limits of sport to solve global issues we should highlight the contribution sport and development organisations are making. The quotes below do just that.

“…We don’t have that anymore. Soccer pitches are for soccer now.” (ACER)

“…The operational team eliminated all the unexploded remnants…giving back a safe pitch to children to play football.” (FFAV)