SALW Control Roadmap 2024
Back to project list

ExB Project: “Support to designing and implementing awareness raising campaigns on SALW control in Serbia” (OSCE Mission to Serbia)

Duration

September 2019 – December 2024

Beneficiary/ies

SALW Coordination Council in Serbia, Ministry of Interior and general public

Donor/s

European Union, France, Germany and Slovakia

Funding Amount

EUR 351,163

Funding gaps (if any)

EUR 10,465

Objective/s

  • To strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and other state institutions to conduct awareness raising campaigns on SALW control, thus contributing to decreasing the amount of weapons in illegal possession, hindering the misuses of SALW, while increasing the safety of Serbia’s citizens.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Goal 4 - By 2024, significantly reduce the supply, demand and misuse of firearms through increased awareness, education, outreach and advocacy.

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 4:

  • Increase awareness among general population, both women and men, on the danger of misuse, illicit possession and trafficking of FAE.
  • Increase confidence in security institutions as providers of adequate and equal safety for all through community-society-regional outreach activities.

Key activities implemented up to date

  • The Mission organized a kick-off Workshop on 15 and 16 September 2021 for 20 representatives from state institutions and civil society organizations involved in addressing SALW misuse.
  • The WG was officially formed on 24 December 2021. Soon after, OSCE expert recommendations on conducting the awareness-raising campaigns in Serbia were shared with the WG members.
  • In February 2022, the 1st WG meeting was held, during which the tasks working methodology were discussed, and the Recommendations for awareness raising campaigns were presented.
  • On 18 April, the 2nd WG meeting was organized. The main topic of discussion was the Draft Media and Awareness Raising plan, previously developed by the external expert hired by the project.
  • On 22 July 2022, the 3rd WG meeting was held. Members of the WG reviewed several SALW awareness raising campaigns either previously implemented in Serbia or expected in the SEE region.  The WG concluded on the content, messaging and primary target groups for the planned SALW legalization awareness raising campaign in Serbia.
  • Following the WG recommendations, the Mission drafted the Terms of Reference for a “Service provider to develop feature (non-animated) video spots, social media campaign content, also develop of concept, content and general design requirements for banners, brochures and posters to support the Ministry of Interior in implementing a national campaign to legalize weapons in illegal possession”.
  • Upon completion of the competitive procedure, in January 2023, the Mission selected a “Service provider for developing campaign materials to support the MoI in implementing a national campaign aimed at legalizing weapons in illegal possession”.
  • During the period January – April 2023, the Mission, the MoI and the selected advertising agency held several strategy meetings to shape the direction and elements of the upcoming campaign.
  • Following two mass shooting incidents that occurred in Serbia on 3 and 4 May 2023, the MoI announced a voluntary surrender of weapons to commence immediately on 8 May. Therefore, the campaign ideas developed by the media company were reprioritized and adjusted.
  • During the voluntary surrender campaign, the Mission supported the MoI by producing two informative videos to be broadcasted on national TV channels, including the respective content (short videos and visuals) for social media.
  • To maximize campaign reach, the Mission rented 125 billboards (both printed and LED) across Serbia.
  • Together with the MoI, the Mission has begun developing the next phase of the awareness-raising campaign, focusing on the safekeeping of legally possessed SALW.
  • A feature video on this topic was recorded on 27 February 2024 and approved by the Mission and the donors in April 2024.
  • The Mission also produced informational leaflets and posters, and additional promotional materials (notebooks, pens, USB sticks and cotton bags).
  • The campaign is expected to launch in November 2024.
  • The Mission supports the MoI in organizing roundtables with hunting and shooting associations in five cities in Serbia in October and November 2024.
  • Round tables with shooting and hunting associations in four cities in Serbia were held in October and November 2024.

Main challenges encountered

Lack of responsiveness on behalf of the MoI in respect to the adjustment of activities under result 2.