New analysis of data collected on armed violence in Iraq between 2003- 2011 shows that explosive weapons are particularly likely to kill or injure females and children.
The data was collected by Iraq Body Count from 20 March 2003 to 31 December 2011. This paper explores the impact of different weapons on females of all ages, and children (aged 17 or younger).
Among the key findings, this paper shows that although gunfire killed the greatest number of people, of the broad violence types analysed, the proportion of females and children among the people killed and injured by explosive weapons is significantly higher than for firearm incidents and other forms of assault.
This is particularly true for tank fire, artillery, aircraft bombs, missiles and mortars. These heavy explosive weapons are perhaps most difficult to use in a contained way that does not impact on a wide-area. Their impact on females and children in Iraq is suggestive either of a lack of control over certain weapon types, and a particular moral problem regarding the use of these weapons.
Research paper: Impact of explosive weapons by gender and age Iraq 2003-2011
This paper was researched and written on behalf of AOAV by Richard Moyes, Managing Partner at Article 36.
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