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21/11/2008

Small arms and human security in Kosovo

Today, in Pristina, Saferworld and the Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ) hosted a conference looking at the impact of small arms on human security in Kosovo. The event aimed to promote debate and cooperation between Kosovo officials, civil society and the international community. Saferworld and FIQ also used the opportunity to launch a report, Through the cross-hairs, looking at changing attitudes towards small arms in the country

Since 2006, Saferworld and FIQ have worked to improve community security and strengthen small arms controls in Kosovo. As part of this work, we have been tracking changing public perceptions of security – with a particular focus on the spread of small arms.

Through the cross-hairs found that people in Kosovo feel safer than they did two years ago and are less likely to want to own a weapon. People are now also more aware of, and open to talking about, weapons-related issues.

“This conference was important because it brought together different groups to discuss the security issues Kosovo's people face,” said Mia Marzouk, Team Leader on Saferworld’s Europe programme.

“It is important that Kosovo society is engaged in constructive debate which informs institutions’ work on small arms and human security,” added Ferdinand Nikolla, Executive Director of FIQ. “If this engagement doesn’t happen, laws and policies will not be relevant to the Kosovo context."

Through the cross-hairs: A survey of changing attitudes towards small arms in Kosovo is available to download in Albanian, English, Serbian and Serbian (Cyrillic)

Read more about our work in Kosovo

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Small arms and human security in Kosovo: A report on public attitudes to small arms is launched at a conference on small arms and human security in Pristina.