Building Capacities for More Effective Communication on SALW Control

To strengthen institutional capacities for public outreach and improve crisis communication in the context of small arms and light weapons (SALW) control, SEESAC organized two specialized trainings for representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministries of Interior and police agencies. 

Developed in line with the needs identified by the Regional Awareness-Raising Task Force, the training on planning, design, and implementation of awareness-raising campaigns was held on 7-8 October, and it gathered public relations officers and spokespersons of MoI and  police administrations from all across Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Through a series of interactive sessions and practical group exercises, participants explored all phases of an awareness-raising campaign execution, from research and audience identification to message creation, communication channels, and event planning. They developed and presented campaign concepts - based on current priorities on the ground, designed to promote public safety and awareness around SALW control on which they received feedback from trainers and peers. 

The second training was dedicated to establishing best practices for crisis communication in situations involving firearms and was held on 9-10 October. Participants included representatives of key institutions that would be called on to respond to and communicate with the public in crisis situations. 

Participants discussed the principles and real-life practices of communication during crises involving firearms. Through practical simulations and using SEESAC’s draft Guidelines for Communication in Crisis Situations Linked to Firearms, participants strengthened their understanding of communications’ crisis team structures, evidence-based preparation for possible crisis, development of a crisis communication plan, its initiation and adjustments made at the time of crisis, best practices in implementation and post-event evaluation. They also worked on developing crisis communication plans, analyzing real-life examples, and discussing key recommendations for maintaining public trust and ensuring clear, accurate, and timely information flow during emergencies. 

Both trainings are part of SEESAC’s continuous efforts to enhance institutional capacities to communicate more effectively with the public about SALW within the framework 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 Union through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II) (2021/425-067).