Gender responsive SALW Control in the region

The Regional Training Course: Towards Gender Responsive SALW Control was held in Podgorica on 19 and 20 June 2019. The two-day training brought together 15 representatives from Belgrade, Chisinau, Pristina and Skopje, including representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Police Services and Human Resources units of these institutions. During the two days, participants discussed intensively how specific gender norms and roles can fuel demand for firearms and shape hazardous behavior including the misuse of firearms in domestic violence.  Participants were also presented with data from SEESAC’s forthcoming SALW Survey, which boosted the discussion on how to practically address gender specific risks of SALW misuse and enhance the capacities of the institutions in integrating the gender perspective into SALW control measures and policies.

The training supports governments in fulfilling their commitments to advance gender equality and contribute to the implementation of sustainable developments goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. It also enabled progress towards the achievement of the goals under the Regional Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW/firearms and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024 (‘the Roadmap’).

The training is organized within the European Union Council Decision 2016/2356/CFSP, in support of SEESAC’s disarmament and arms control activities in the South East Europe.