Firearms Focal Points from EU, Western Balkans, and Moldova Gather for Annual Workshop

SEESAC and EMPACT FIREARMS organised the Annual Workshop for Firearms Focal Points (FFPs) from the Western Balkans, Moldova, and the European Union, in the Hague, the Netherlands, on 21-22 September. The gathering aimed at fostering the exchange of best practices and challenges among the focal points.

The meeting focused on the way forward in increasing the capacities of FFPs to support firearms-related investigations by collection, gathering, and production of intelligence to be used in fighting trafficking and misuse of firearms and their components. Moreover, the participants exchanged the views on the ways forward for establishing fully staffed, trained, and operational FFPs.

Additionally, the focal points from the Western Balkans and Moldova attended a training on gender analysis and gender-sensitive data collection to be used in making their actions effective. They also visited the Dutch National Forensic Institute where the participants exchanged good practices with the colleagues from the Netherlands and got the first-hand experience on the latest developments in the field.

This annual gathering was organised within the implementation of EMPACT FIREARMS Operational Actions focused on intelligence led policing and establishment of the fully operational FFPs in the EU and in the Western Balkans. SEESAC is supporting this activity through the Regional IPA project Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse, and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans.

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