Serbia adopts a national SALW Strategy

On 13 May 2010 the Government of Serbia adopted the Strategy on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2010-2015. The Strategy represents a major accomplishment of the Serbian institutions in their efforts to establish a holistic approach towards SALW control. The Strategy is in line with the international best practices in SALW control and lays a solid foundation for the implementation of specific SALW control interventions.

The institutional framework for the implementation of the Strategy foresees the establishment of a Commission on SALW. One of the main tasks of the Commission will be the formulation of an Action Plan for the implementation of the eight main objectives envisaged by the Strategy:

Objective 1:

Create the conditions for an effective application of the national legislation related to the production, transfer, marking and stamping, export and import controls, fulfillment of requirements for weapons’ possession and weapons registration procedures

Objective 2:

Inform the public on the negative impacts of weapons’ abuse and raise awareness in individuals and legal entities on the risks caused by weapons and on legal regulations related to weapons possession and internal and international transfers of weapons

Objective 3:

Create the conditions for safe storage of small arms and light weapons

Objective 4:

Plan and conduct long-term and regular activities of SALW controls with the aim of weapons collection (amnesty) or their seizure and destruction.

Objective 5:

Identify surplus stockpiles of small arms and light weapons under state control and create material and financial conditions for their safe disposal.

Objective 6:

Strengthen cooperation at national and international level, in accordance with the existing international documents

Objective 7:

Seek civil society support to the SALW Control Strategy.

Objective 8:

Ensure observance and implementation of the existing international agreements (documents, conventions) related to small arms and light weapons, acceded by the Republic of Serbia and compliance of local legislation with the international documents and regulations of the UN, OSCE and EU.

The recent Council Decision 2010/179/CFSP adopted by the European Union and implemented by SEESAC provides for support to the activities under Objective 4 and 5 of the Strategy. SEESAC will participate on behalf of UNDP in the work of the Commission as an observer and plans to contribute in a practical manner towards the achievement of the Strategy's goals.

You can download the unofficial English translation of the Strategy from here.

You can download a copy  of the Strategy in the Serbian Official Gazette from here.
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