Funding Mechanisms

Reduce Risk - Increase Safety II

Implementing period: September 2022 - May 2023

Budget: US$ 170,700

The project built upon the findings from the first phase of the Reduce Risk-Increase Safety project, implemented by UNDP Serbia through the Funding Windows regional project on SALW control. It aimed to accelerate the implementation of the normative and strategic framework and boost existing practices and partnerships related to protection from SALW misuse in the context of violence against women, and domestic violence in Serbia. In addition, it addressed the problem of suicides committed with firearms.

The project contributed to Goal 4 of the Roadmap, namely to reduce the misuse of firearms through increased awareness, education, outreach and advocacy. It focused on decreasing the considerable number of suicides and cases of firearms misuse for domestic violence recorded in Serbia. It also contributed to the achievement of Roadmap Goal 2, whereby it supported that arms control policies and practices in the Serbia are evidence based. The specific objective was to reduce the risk of misuse of firearms for domestic violence or suicides by persons who have access to firearms as civilians, or based on their occupation or hobby, as well as those who have access to illegal firearms. Through its activities, the project aimed to create a comprehensive approach to strengthening the role of the healthcare system in the prevention of firearms misuse.

Overall achievements:

  • The project ensured preconditions for planning a comprehensive approach to strengthening the healthcare system’s role in the prevention of firearms misuse for violence. 
    • Stakeholders relevant for prevention of firearms misuse for violence were mapped, involving the participation of both institutional and NGO representatives, as well as independent experts. Institutional, civil society, community, private sector and individual actors were identified, to be considered and involved in a comprehensive approach to tackle firearms misuse. Part of the mapping process was captured in infographic form.
    • The project mobilized over 250 representatives (75% women and 25% men) of state institutions, private entities, civil society organizations, communities, media and independent experts, through its six workshops, a series of consultative meetings, interviews and events, surpassing the initially envisaged number of stakeholders to be involved (100). 
    • Set of feasible and implementable measures and activities to improve prevention of firearms-enabled domestic violence was developed, through the process of stakeholder engagement around the topic of prevention of SALW misuse for violence and suicides. This involved the outlining of the main challenges identified in the actual implementation of the framework of SALW misuse prevention and recording of suggested implementable solutions and opportunities for improvement.  In response to the dilemmas raised by health professionals regarding protection from the domestic violence, including that committed through SALW misuse, guidelines were developed, as part of this process, to improve healthcare workers’ readiness to recognize and provide support in domestic violence cases through a multi-sectoral approach. 
       
  • The project explored a range of knowledge-attitude-behavioural challenges to prevent firearms misuse, involving state institutions, private entities, communities and individuals.
    • Comprehensive stakeholder consultation resulted in the development of a knowledge paper examining the various aspects of suicide by firearms. The knowledge paper focuses on identified challenges in suicide prevention that persons at risk of committing suicide (as beneficiaries) and healthcare professionals (as support service providers) face and provides possible solutions. The challenges and entry points for overcoming them relate to the procedure of firearm permit issuance/revocation, digitalization, existing good practices and their application, risk assessment and cooperation with other systems and organizations, as well as successful outreach towards patients and support service accessibility. The perspectives of both persons seeking support and those providing it were analysed, to identify and suggest solutions for bridging the gaps between beneficiaries and service providers. Input collection also facilitated partnership building and networking with and among experts working to support persons at risk of suicide, health specialists – psychiatrists, civil society organization representatives, as well as institutional and state representatives.
    • Feeding into the comprehensive knowledge paper towards strengthening approaches to prevention, specific areas of focus were further analysed:
      • Research on the phenomenon of intimate partner femicide-suicide cases committed with firearms, highlighting specific risk factors and circumstances, with a view of improving institutional response and prevention of such cases.
      • Research on mental health programs and interventions to prevent suicides committed with firearms, focusing on 45+ male population and firearms carrying professionals, including recommendations for improvements.
      • Analysis of the existing roles and responsibilities of the healthcare system in suicide prevention and responding to suicide risks.
    • Journalists’ capacities to create media stories in an ethical manner were improved and public awareness was raised on the link between SALW misuse, gender-based violence, suicides, and the importance of prevention. This encompassed:
      • a workshop with journalists and editors (50 participants, 60% women and 40% men, from a publishing house with online and print media that have an audience of over 1,300,000 readers of daily and monthly issues).
      • publishing of  Guidelines for ethical media reporting on suicide, including firearms-misuse suicide, based on assessment of existing reporting practices and prepared to serve as a resource on educational and preventative media reporting.
      • close collaboration with the UNDP-supported group “Journalists against violence” throughout project implementation.
    • Capacities of 29 Ministry of Interior's (MoI) psychology experts were improved (over 90% women) to deal with the possible psychological effects of traumatic experiences on police officers who work on cases with violent elements. This contributes to reducing the risk of firearms misuse for domestic violence or suicide among police officers and other MoI staff.
       
  • Being based on stakeholders’ better understanding of effects of firearms misuse and improving multi-agency action, in the aftermath of the mass shootings in May 2023 that occurred in Serbia, the project:
    • contributed to increased capacities of institutions in planning immediate response measures.
    • contributed to UNDP being recognized as a holder of expert knowledge on SALW-misuse and was contacted to provide suggestions for expert interviewees, while the knowledge products developed through the project were cited.
    • facilitated placement of knowledge- and evidence-based public messages by networking experts and media, thus serving awareness raising and trauma alleviation.
       

In the context which shifted great public attention to firearms misuse prevention, the project proved catalytic in the identification of future needs and actions, which will be addressed through the new “Reduce Risk – Increase Safety III” project, ensuring the sustainability of achieved results. 

The project contributed to Roadmap Goals 2 and 4 and key performance indicators 2, 9, 10, and 14 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and their ammunition in the Western Balkans.