Human rights organizations in Mexico today launched a movement in social networks demanding the Mexican and U.S. governments for new measures to control the "alarming" trafficking rate of assault weapons.
The campaign "Gallery Post for Peace" (Postea por la Paz) is trying to get Mexicans to sign a petition to make visible the social cost of the illegal trafficking of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico, and the impact that these weapons have against serious human rights violations.
The goal is to "contribute to the debate over gun control in the U.S." And for the opinion of society to be heard by the authorities, said in a statement Amnesty International (AI), who noted that every day approximately 2,000 weapons enter Mexico from U.S. and fuel the wave of violence.
Using the hashtag #AdiosalasArmas (goodbyetoweapons) on Twitter and on Facebook, people have joined the "Gallery Post for Peace" movement, which will culminate with a "virtual march" on 29 April.
There is also a march planed in Mexico City, which will begin at the Museum of Tolerance, then head through the Paseo de la Reforma street, until reaching the "Angel de Independence"(Angel of Independence) statue that is just a few meters away from the U.S. embassy. This march will be streamed live via the internet and can be followed minute by minute said a representative of AI.
The digital signatures collected will be delivered to the U.S. embassy as well as to the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico.
This campaign is calling for the Mexican government to take effective customs measures for control, and for the U.S. administration to enforce the existing ban on the importation of assault rifles.
These actions "are aimed at reducing the human cost due to the out of control trade of weapons," said the human rights group.
Besides AI, other groups participating in the initiative are "Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad" (Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity), led by the Mexican poet, Javier Sicilia.
Editorial@sandiegored.com
Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com
