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Saferworld partners mark Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence 2011

To mark this year’s Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence (13-19 June), Saferworld supported partner organisations in Kosovo and South Sudan to hold awareness raising events.

The Southern Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA) held a series of public debates on the theme of ‘Gun violence as an obstacle to socio-economic progress in the new Republic of South Sudan’, which were broadcast by radio stations Liberty FM and Bakhita FM.

The debates explored citizens’ perspectives on armed violence in South Sudan, disarmament processes and the links between poverty and gun violence. As well as providing a forum for citizens to discuss solutions to the problem of armed violence in the new nation, which is expected to declare independence on 9 July, the debates provided a platform for survivors of gun violence to share their stories.

Phone-in discussions with members of the public made it clear that many people are ready to become part of the solution to the arms problem in South Sudan. Audience members suggested a programme of uniform and simultaneous disarmament, professionalising the armed forces and police and making them more accountable to the public. They also called for the removal of army uniforms that are in the hands of civilians or ex-combatants, and a stronger legislative system to deal with those responsible for perpetuating gun violence.

Young artists in Kosovo paint pictures on the theme of gun violence In Gjilan, East Kosovo, the Kosovo Center for International Cooperation (KCIC) organised two groups of young artists to create paintings on the subject of gun violence. They also handed out 1,500 leaflets to members of the public, which gave statistics on the dangers of small arms and light weapons (SALW).

KCIC hosted a roundtable meeting on the theme of ‘Approaches to bringing SALW under control’. The meeting was attended by representatives from government, the media and civil society, including Izmi Zeka, Vice Minister of Internal Affairs, Zenun P 'Thuaj jo armes / Say no to weapons' roundtable discussion in Gjilan, Kosovo ajaziti, Kosovan Member of Parliament, and Almina Mahmuti, Police Commander for the Gjilani region.

The overall conclusion from the roundtable discussion was that all those working on the issue of SALW must start to co-operate more closely in order to begin implementing the recently approved law on guns and strategy for the control of SALW. Vice Minister Izmi Zeka appealed to the citizens to avoid the use of SALW, and declared the Kosovan Government’s intention to work closely with civil society to put an end to gun violence.