SALW Awareness, Collection and Registration Campaign

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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“Since the end of the war, more than 10,000 lives have been lost as a result of illicit weapons.

The proliferation of these weapons is an on-going threat to community and family safety in BiH. In response, Ministries of Interior across the country have launched the Small Arms and Light Weapons Awareness, Collection and Registration Campaign, a project unique in its approach and magnitude.

For the first time, 12 line ministries and 8 international partners are coordinating activities for the collection and disposal of illicit weapons in communities throughout the country.

To date, the Campaign has reached 2,867,567 people - collecting and disposing of more than 11,000 weapons and accessories. While the problem of illicit weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina requires a long term, multi-faceted approach, the SALW Collection Campaign represents a step in the right direction.

We are proud to be part of a campaign that aims to change mindsets and initiate responsible action, and positively impact family and community safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina.�

Zahira Virani, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Scope of problem The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990’s contributed to the number of illicit weapons in the country today, presenting an issue that the country is striving to resolve.

Illegal weapon possession is both a domestic and international security concern. It has regional and transnational dimensions; can spread across territorial borders and disperse among criminal groups that traffic weapons. The ease of acquiring small arms contributes to the problem that many countries face today in regulating arms ownership and preventing violence.

Small arms and light weapon (SALW) proliferation in Bosnia and Herzegovina results in death, injury, and psychological scaring. The social impact of SALW create insecurity among the population by impacting the trust in law enforcement agencies, breeds hostility towards others, creates a perception that guns equal safety, and further disallows reconciliation and development.

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Mission The aim of this weapons collection campaign is to foster development, minimize the chances of armed conflict or violence, and introduce a reduction in the trends of incidents that result from illegal trafficking, violent crime and complacency. The campaign and her partners aim to further build and assist the capacities of the state institutions to tackle the illicit use of SALW, reducing weapons availability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and spreading awareness to the population on the negative aspects of illegal possession and use of SALW. Removing these weapons from society by disposing of surrendered weapons or by promoting weapons registration will aid the authorities in establishing more thorough controls of small arms.

Therefore lessening the probability of weapons falling into irresponsible ownership which could be used to trigger political or ethnic violence, cause crime, and contribute to domestic abuse, suicide or unintentional shootings.

Demonstrating the activities and results of the programmes initiative is essential to ensuring that the results are not just numerical but that the public is continuously kept informed of the activities and the desire for long-term sustainable effects.

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Awareness Swaying attitudes away from what we see globally as ‘gun culture’ begins with raising awareness.

Showing initiative to remind people of the dangers of weapons and creating a platform for a better conversation. Promoting a conversation between families and their youth, schools and their students, and participants in society is one of the key steps in raising awareness.

To engage with communities and bring the campaign to them there were over 100 media announcements made on television, radio and the internet about the campaign actions and accessibility. In over 40 locations across the country city squares were filled with different events to promote and speak directly alongside police to inhabitants about the danger of SALW.

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Registration To reduce incidents of violence and illicit small arms proliferation this campaign encourages citizens to register illicit arms to help promote responsible ownership and to prevent their misuse. Through registering weapons previously illegally owned individuals can keep these weapons legally and in line with national law. Registering weapons will increase accountability and reduce the amount of illicit weapons in circulation. Furthermore, this will prevent the availability of illicit weapons that could otherwise be funneled into crime or be used in intercommunal violence, violent crime or unintentional shootings.

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C o o p e rat i o n

cooperation Small Arms and Light Weapons Collection, Registration and Awareness Campaign is the first initiative since the end of the war to bring the country together to reduce illicit arms and promote awareness of the issues that they pose to the safety and security of the country.

Police agencies around the country have synchronized their efforts to inform citizens of the opportunities that this campaign presents. There have been 12 police ministries around the country that have kept the motion of the campaign moving forward, initiating the first nation-wide campaign of this scale addressing illicit small arms.

The joint efforts of the local authorities around the country have taken the lead in spreading awareness about the dangers of illicit weapons in civilian hands. Most importantly, the enthusiasm of the local authorities has contributed to an amplified dialogue about weapons in civilian hands and their efforts have highlighted the significance of this countrywide campaign. Maintaining a steady conversation about these issues is needed to keep the problem in perspective.

The cooperation seen through this campaign has made awareness raising, collection, registration and disposal of small arms possible. The significance and magnitude of this project is made successful by the cooperation seen throughout the country.

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Surrendering Awareness campaigns are the roots that encourage the surrendering of weapons or their registration.

This is an amnesty-based initiative issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to set an appropriate legal framework, Republika Srpska and the Federation have issued a limited period amnesty legislation to enable people to return weapons voluntarily, or register them, without sanctions. The process is therefore designed on a rolling-principle, focusing on different regions within different timeframes.

The campaign reached all sections of society and appeals to a wide range of mindsets. To encourage the public perception of the mission we strive for a wide-reaching campaign that will contrast weapons against positive themes, inviting people to embrace the positive results of the project.

Treating the visual branding of the campaign as an integral part of our work had a surprising outcome: in addition to opening up valuable dialogue about the importance of project visibility, we found that this approach leads to innovation in all areas.

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Destroying New life for old weapons: conflict metal used to build windmills?

January 16, 2014 by Lillian Palmbach and Jasmin Porobic

There have so far been 4, 114 small arms and light weapons destroyed, while another 2,283 were surrendered and are pending destruction. The destruction of surrendered weapons is done by melting the surrendered weapons in a furnace. The melted metal is then recycled to be used for other purposes such as; components for railway tracks, or for molding pieces that will create sustainable energy windmills. “There were close to half a million soldiers during the war fighting for their cause, and there are an estimated quarter of a million illegally possessed weapons circulating in the country today. How do we fight the war against the remnants of war? How do we ‘peace-together’ the process?

At the end of 2013, over 1,500 small arms and light weapons were destroyed – helping to wash away some of the stain on the country’s history. Choose Life Without Weapons, a campaign funded by the UK Government and guided by the International Small Arms Standards, collected weapons from different areas around the nation. The weapons collected were of different age and quality; some had etchings, initials and symbols marked into them. Surrounded by more weapons than many are likely to see in their lifetime you begin to imagine how these weapons got here, what they were used for, by who? Instead of seeing them as objects, you begin to realize them as possessions.

These weapons once came into the country to protect or attack but for whichever reason, many of these took the rights of people away and for many people these were that last things they saw. Those who handed in these weapons are responsible for ensuring that they do not fall into anyone else’s hands or end anymore lives. Perhaps this will save someone’s life. The thousands of households and individuals that turned in weapons were doing so for their own reasons. Whether it was to rid them of a burden, a piece of scrap metal or to spare anyone from coming into contact with these weapons, we will never know.

But by handing over their weapons they gave something to the entire country. Handing over these weapons reminds us of everyone’s right to life and no one’s right to steal it.

How many people have we helped with by destroying over 1,500 weapons? How many nations have been spared from conflict or crime? We will never know. But one life taken is one too many and a single life saved from violence is progress.

Scrappy metal gets second, green life Metal that was forged to create systems of violence have been transformed into components for promoting sustainable energy. The weapons are melted down and used for the production of wind mills. They came out of conflict, but are now helping to combat climate change. Despite these laudable intentions, the remnants of war are winning. They may not be winning in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in many other regions all over the world they remain prevalent. We must stand firm in prompting these actions on a global scale.”

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How many weapons does it tak e to mak e a sculptur e?

The identity of the project has been made by the people involved, their efforts and in the end, the quantifiable results that have been gathered throughout the campaign cycle. Another way to imagine results; how many weapons does it take to make a sculpture?

The sculptor, Mr. Darko Šobot, has taken on the project of contorting 45 weapons into a non-verbal explanation of the troubles Bosnia and Herzegovina faces with small arms and the efforts being made to introduce change.

“This project has been able to put a dent in the numbers that are hindering the safety of citizens and the promise of a more encouraging future. This project does not only yield results by the numbers of weapons handed over and destroyed, but also is working to entice an attitude that is aware of the problem that must be overcome.

My involvement as an artist is to show the slow process of transforming an old conflict, through manipulating weapons, into a sculpture that represents a process of moving beyond violence. It is with gentle anticipation that this sculpture is not presented as only a work of aesthetic significance but that it creates a quiet conversation about the dilemma facing this country.”

Mr. Darko Šobot, The sculptor

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CONCLUSION

Weapons are made of many parts and are put together to create a product that leads to horrific outcomes. Reversing the abilities of the weapons is done by the involvement of many elements.

The management, coordination, and alignment of all parties needed to conduct such a campaign are what allow for such results to be achieved. The majority of personnel at JelĹĄingrad have seen and participated in 8 weapon disposals. The personnel contribute directly to the safety of citizens and their efforts can be seen in the number of weapons safely disposed of so far.

Throughout the duration of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Small Arms and Light Weapons Awareness, Collection and Registration Campaign there have been 8 weapon disposals. There have been 11,363 weapons and their accessories destroyed by local police agencies.

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The personnel of Livnica Jelšingrad, Banja Luka, assisting in the meltdown of collection small arms and light weapons.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

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“UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina has been a leading champion of ISACS and has used the standards to help Ministries of Interior to design and implement a campaign — entitled “Choose Life Without Weapons” — to collect and destroy illicit and unwanted small arms and light weapons throughout the country. The success of this campaign is a positive proof that ISACS can contribute in a significant way to strengthening national small arms controls.”

Dr Patrick McCarthy, Head of the ISACS Inter-Agency Support Unit at the United Nations “UNDP has a proven track-record in delivering meaningful and substantial SALW control and ammunition destruction projects in BiH. They have been our partner of choice over several years of work in this vital area and led to the development of the country’s current Strategy for SALW Control. At the British Embassy we are proud of the small contribution that we have been able to make towards these major threat reduction landmarks and congratulate UNDP and their partner organizations for their hard work and commitment. Together they are making BiH a safer place.”

Lieutenant Colonel Rob Tomlinson, UK’s Defense Attaché.

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This project is funded by the European Union

The European Union through the Council Decision 2013/730/ CFSP, dated 9th December 2013, in Support of SEESAC Disarmament and Arms Control Activities in South East Europe is with the framework of the EU Strategy to Combat the Illicit Accumulation and Trafficking of SALW and their Ammunition.

The activities are implemented in line with the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS)

ДИ СТ Р ИК Т БИХ

POLICIJA BRČKO DISTRIKTA BIH

ПОЛ ИЦИЈА

ЧК

О

БР

Ministarstvo za unutrašnje poslove Bosansko-podrinjskog kantona Goražde

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Republike Srpske

Policija Brčko distrikta Bosne i Hercegovine

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Hercegovačko-neretvanskog kantona/županije

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Kantona Sarajevo

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Kantona 10

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Posavskog kantona

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Srednjebosanskog kantona

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Tuzlanskog kantona

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Unsko-sanskog kantona

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Zapadnohercegovačke županije

Ministarstvo unutrašnjih poslova Zeničko-dobojskog kantona

SALW Awareness, Collection and Registration Campaign

2014