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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAMPAIGN ”CHOOSE LIFE INSTEAD OF WEAPONS”
| Banja Luka
| Monday, 25/09/2023
The campaign ”Choose life instead of weapons”, implemented by the Republic of Srpska Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with all ten cantonal ministries of the interior in the BiH Federation and the Brčko District Police was launched today. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the citizens on the dangers of keeping firearms and the consequences it has to people’s life and health.
At the same time, the campaign is a call for general action to prevent cases of firearm abuse and to prevent and decrease the possession of illegal weapons in BiH.
”Choose life instead of weapons” also represents a response to the increased number of incidents caused by firearm abuse with tragic consequences that had occurred recently.
Ten out of ten murders that occurred on the Republic of Srpska territory in the past year were committed using firearm, mostly illegal.
”We are particularly concerned with the fact that the majority of murders connected with firearms happened on private premises, and every second murder was committed in the house, apartment or the backyard of the victim. The analysis show that, during the interventions of police offices in cases of domestic violence in the Republic of Srpska, in 77 cases the perpetrator of domestic violence had weapons in his possession, and that they used the weapons in three cases”, it was stated during the presentation of the campaign.
In the course of the campaign, particular emphasis will be placed on the topic of femicide, responsible possession of weapons and surrendering illegal weapons. The campaign also draws attention to the fact that the illegal possession of firearms represents a significant risk for the safety of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls for the surrender of illegal weapons.
Firearms, ammunition and explosive devices left in public places or areas can also be reported to the competent police agency without sanction.
The campaign is supported through the project "Prevention and reduction of possession of illegal weapons in BiH", which is financed by Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom and Norway, with the support of the European Union, through the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF), and implemented by the UNDP in BiH.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CAMPAIGN ”CHOOSE LIFE INSTEAD OF WEAPONS”
