Injury Matters is proud to have recently joined the Global Coalition for WHO Action on Firearm Violence, a global network of public health organisations, researchers, advocates and community groups calling on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise firearm violence as a critical public health priority and strengthen global efforts to prevent firearm-related harm.
For more than three decades, Injury Matters has championed evidence-based approaches to injury prevention and public safety. While Australia has made significant progress in reducing firearm-related deaths and injuries through strong policy and prevention measures, firearm violence continues to have devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities around the world.
Public safety remains paramount to the work we do, and we believe that all injuries are preventable through coordinated, evidence-informed action. The Coalition’s call to action highlights that despite the scale of harm, firearm violence has received limited attention within many existing global health frameworks.
The Coalition is urging the WHO and its Member States to strengthen leadership on firearm violence prevention, improve research and surveillance, integrate firearm harm prevention into key public health strategies, and support evidence-based approaches that save lives.
By joining this global movement, Injury Matters has an opportunity to contribute our expertise in injury prevention and health promotion. Collaboration is fundamental to us as an organisation and participation in the Coalition will enable us to engage with an international community of researchers, practitioners and advocates working towards a shared vision: preventing firearm-related injury and death through public health action.
Find out more about the Coalition through their website, or reach out to Injury Matters to see how you can support the group.