A/HRC/32/21 with firearms.14 Women and children were found frequently to be victims of firearm-related violence.15 8. Other submissions highlighted the dramatic consequences of the widespread availability and misuse of firearms, including changing the fates of individuals and even entire communities,16 engendering a general sense of insecurity and fear, exacerbating crimes17 and encouraging individuals to arm themselves for self-defence and defence of their property.18 Daily life lived with the fear and threat of violence from firearms also has psychological consequences such as trauma19 and insecurity.20 Field surveys in one State showed that more than half the population was living in a state of fear of being attacked by a person with a gun.21 9. Many States agreed that deaths and injuries resulting from firearm-related violence were a major human rights issue.22 It was stated that firearms were “the primary medium” of human rights violations and abuses23 and that violence was often encouraged by the ready availability and abundance of firearms.24 States argued that the listed forms of violence and crime, and the harm they caused, often constituted violations of the right to life, security25 and physical integrity and of the rights to liberty and protection from torture,26 among others.27 One State pointedly stated that the misuse of firearms affected the entire spectrum of human rights.28 10. Economic, social and cultural rights affected by firearms include the rights to health,29 education, an adequate standard of living and social security and the right to participate in the cultural life of the community (see E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/29, para. 13). There is also a concern that insecurity caused by firearm-induced violence leads to the diversion of investment, a negative impact on productive assets such as tourism and family disintegration.30 Insecurity has been identified as a main cause of poverty. 31 Moreover, States asserted that the misuse and availability of firearms could have an indirect and continued impact on access to the right to an adequate standard of living32 as a result of the economic burden on families of those injured and killed.33 The sheer impact of firearms on 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 4 Honduras, Jamaica and Peru. Burundi. Estonia. Philippines. Burkina Faso and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, regarding Cameroon. Estonia. Burundi. Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Ecuador, Estonia, Honduras, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mauritius, Montenegro, Peru, the Philippines and Senegal. See also the reports of the Special Rapporteur on the prevention of human rights violations committed with small arms and light weapons (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/39, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/29, E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/37 and Add.1 and A/HRC/Sub.1/58/27). Peru. Honduras. Bahrain, Burundi, Ecuador, Egypt, Montenegro and Morocco; Office of the Ombudsman of Montenegro. Jamaica. Peru. Estonia. Estonia, Honduras, Peru and the Philippines. Honduras. Madagascar. Burundi. Burundi.