This paper, by WHO Action Secretariat member Dean Peacock, argues that the World Health Organization (WHO) is uniquely positioned to lead global efforts to prevent and respond to firearm violence, given its public health mandate, normative authority, and extensive country presence. It outlines how gun violence intersects with WHO priorities including injury prevention, mental health, gender-based violence, child protection, and health systems strengthening. Drawing on WHO’s proven leadership in areas such as tobacco control, road safety, and violence prevention, the paper demonstrates that firearm violence fits squarely within WHO’s remit. It further explains how a World Health Assembly resolution could catalyse coordinated global action, embedding firearm violence prevention across research, policy, prevention, and care frameworks.
