Turning Lessons into Action: Regional Trainers Sharpen Skills to Address Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence
A regional meeting of trainers on the application of the Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence and the Guidelines for Gender Responsive Firearm License Approval was organised by SEESAC on 21 and 22 April 2026 in Herceg Novi, Montenegro.
The meeting brought together 26 trainers from Ministries of Interior and Police Directorates across five Western Balkan jurisdictions who completed SEESAC's training-of-trainers programmes in 2024 and subsequently conducted 10 jurisdiction-level trainings reaching over 130 police officers in 2025. Bringing together trainers working on both sets of Guidelines for the first time, the meeting served as a platform for participants to share experiences, facilitate networking and strengthen regional cooperation in preventing firearms misuse in gender-based violence.
Over two days, participants reflected on the implementation of training sessions delivered in 2025, and addressed key challenges in presenting complex topics related to firearms misuse in the context of domestic violence and gender-responsive firearm licensing. Trainers also discussed opportunities to further institutionalise the training and ensure the transfer of knowledge to the new trainers. Through peer knowledge sharing, simulation-based exercises, and facilitated discussions, participants strengthened their training and facilitation skills. In addition, SEESAC presented key findings and recommendations from two recent studies on factors fuelling demand for firearms and the misuse of firearms in domestic violence, which enabled discussion in relation to participants' jurisdictional contexts and implications for both professional practice and future training delivery. The two-day event concluded with discussions focused on the implementation of future activities and the need to further strengthen the trainers' network, emphasising the importance of ongoing peer support and mentoring.
The meeting builds on an extensive regional process initiated in 2022 that engaged over 100 police officers and 17 women's organisations in developing the two Guidelines. Designed to support professionals in preventing firearms misuse in domestic violence, the Guidelines emphasise comprehensive risk assessment and the integration of a gender perspective in firearm licensing procedures.
This meeting was made possible with the financial support of the European Union as part of the second phase of the regional project 'Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans', funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II). Through this project, SEESAC is providing support to institutions in the Western Balkans to prevent and combat firearms misuse in domestic violence.