In South Asia as elsewhere, elections can be a flash point for armed violence and insecurity. This tension can have serious consequences for people’s ability to exercise democratic choice between different representatives, the most important check to poor government.

In Pakistan there are an estimated 20 million firearms and civilians are the largest category of gun-owners, accounting for far more weapons than the military and police.

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Saferworld supported our partner organisation, Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP) to conduct a Ballot without Bullet public awareness and advocacy campaign that targeted voters in five areas of the North West Frontier Province (now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) during the Presidential Elections of 2008.

Using banners, posters, radio broadcasts in local dialects and press conferences the campaign encouraged political groups and the general public to refrain from ‘arms display and use’ during the elections. There was significant media interest including two special radio discussion programmes on the issue.

The campaign helped to raise awareness on the need for small arms control and highlighted the wider impact of small arms misuse during elections. Whilst there is no conclusive proof, local people reported a perception that there were lower rates of election related deaths and injuries in the areas where the campaign ran than in other districts.