Support for Enhancing the Fight Against the Illegal Possession, Misuse and Trafficking of SALW in the Western Balkans (SEESAC)

Duration

1 September 2021 – 31 December 2025

Beneficiary/ies

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo

Donor/s

European Union (Supported through IPA II Multi-Country Action programme 2020)

Funding Amount

EUR 4,996,576

Funding gaps (if any)

N/A

Objective/s

• To strengthen strategic and operational capacity of the WB jurisdictions to conduct firearms investigations and exchange information within the region and with the EU on illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and their ammunition.
• To support the jurisdictions to better understand and increase the response to the factors fuelling demand and misuse of firearms in the Western Balkans.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 2:

• Standardize and institutionalize data collection on firearms, by gender and age, regarding legal and illegal SALW/firearms interdictions, armed violence incidents, ballistic evidence, and other firearms-related data resulting in periodic regional FAE.
• Strengthen tasking, coordination, and monitoring functions of the Firearms Focal Points, to ensure effective policies on Prevention, Mitigation, Reaction, and Suppression of firearms misuse, trafficking and uncontrolled proliferation.
• Increase national analytical capacities and institutionalize firearms data analysis.

Goal 3:

• Ensure full implementation and monitoring of legal, policy and procedural framework on trafficking of FAE.
• Prevent trafficking (smuggling, illicit trade, and transit) of FAE through improved processes, equipment and training of targeted law enforcement units.
• Substantially strengthen control, monitoring and prevention of diversion of legal trade through improved capacities, procedures, and transparency.
• Strengthen existing bilateral, regional, and international mechanisms and encouraging new forms of good practice to counter trafficking of firearms.

Goal 4:

• Increase awareness and reduce the misuses of firearms in violence against women, domestic violence, and other forms of gender-based violence.
• Increase awareness among general population, both women and men, on the danger of misuse, illicit possession, and trafficking of FAE.
• Increase awareness of dangers of celebratory shooting in particular as major contributors to firearm related death and injury.
• Increase confidence in security institutions as providers of adequate and equal safety for all through community-society-regional outreach activities.

Goal 5:

• Substantially increased number of seized firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
• Ensure that legal measures are in place allowing legalization and voluntary surrender of firearms.

Key activities implemented up to date

Support to Firearms Focal Points (FFPs) in the WB:

• The Annual Workshops for the FFPs and training on gender analysis and gender-sensitive data collection was organized on 21-22 September 2022. The second annual workshop was held on 23-25 May 2023, focusing on drafting a regional SALW threat assessment. The 3^rd  Annual Regional Workshop of FFPs was held on 3-5 December 2024.
• The Regional Training on Critical Thinking Skills and Analytical Capacities was held on 10-13 May 2022.
• The Regional Open-Source Intelligence Training was organized on 14-17 May 2022.
• Workshops for the development of SOPs for FFPs were organized in Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The SOPs, translated into local languages, were endorsed  by the relevant authorities f.
• A Regional Cyber Patrol Training was organized on 20-21 October 2022 to further improve situational analysis of criminal behaviour regarding illicit arms trafficking on the web.
• A meeting of the task force with the assignment to propose the model of the FFP to the Council of Ministers in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held with SEESAC’s support in Sarajevo on 28 November 2022, based on the specific request of the relevant authorities. The meeting resulted in an agreed model of FFP in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be officially proposed by the task force to the Council of Ministers for adoption.
• At the request of the relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SEESAC provided support for the organization of another meeting of the Working Group for establishing a Firearms Focal Point in BiH in Sarajevo on 29 February 2023 to discuss the modalities and the next steps regarding the establishment of the FFP.
• In cooperation with the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS), the Regional Meeting on Knowledge and the Best Practice Exchange in the Field of Ballistic Examination and Ballistic Intelligence was organized on 23-25 November 2022 to strengthen ballistic and forensic capacities for investigation of firearms-related crimes in the field of data collection and analysis.
• A Regional Training on Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) was organized from 21 to 24 March 2023 for Firearms Focal Points (FFPs) representatives from the Western Balkans.
• In cooperation with EMPACT and NABIS, a Regional Workshop on Intelligence Collection of the Firearms Focal Points in support of EMPACT Joint Action Days for FFPs representatives from the Western Balkans was organized from 5-6 April 2023 in Budva.
• A Regional Workshop on Intelligence Collection of the Firearms Focal Points in support of EMPACT Joint Action Days (JAD) was held in Skopje, North Macedonia, from 4 to 6 September 2023, for the representatives of six Western Balkans jurisdictions, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
• SEESAC supported the EMPACT Joint Action Days South East Europe (EMPACT JAD SEE 2023) from 13 to 18 November 2023, targeting firearms and drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and human trafficking, dismantling high-risk criminal networks. In cooperation with the Ministry of Interior in Skopje and EMPACT, SEESAC facilitated cyber patrolling activities for cybersecurity units from each Western Balkans jurisdiction, providing logistical assistance and necessary equipment.
• In cooperation with EMPACT FIREARMS, SEESAC organized a Regional Meeting on Firearms Trafficking Investigation Identification in Belgrade from 26 to 27 March 2024 in support of the implementation of the EMPACT Joint Action Days in South East Europe (JAD SEE) 2024.
• SEESAC provided support in conducting cyber patrolling as part of the EMPACT Joint Action Days South East Europe in Sarajevo from 21 to 26 October 2024.
• From 16-17 May 2023, a visit to the National Ballistic Intelligence Service (NABIS) in the United Kingdom was organized for FFP representatives from Serbia and Montenegro.
• To support the operationalization of the FFP in Albania, as it transitioned from a virtual to a physical format, an expert visited Albania’s State Police headquarters from 28 to 29 February 2024. The visit assessed the linkage of firearms databases and the Laboratory Information Management System, resulting in a report assessing the capacity and functionality of FFPs with recommendations.
• A two-day Workshop on the Outreach of the FFP and Ballistic Laboratory to the Prosecution Office in Support of Firearms Investigations in Pristina was held on 17-18 October 2023, which marked the first in a series of such workshops, followed by the workshop in Belgrade from 7-8 December 2023, in Podgorica from 20-21 February 2024, in Skopje on 28 March 2024, and Podgorica and Tirana on 20-21 February and on 5-6 March 2024, respectively. A total of 70 sessions were organized in 2023 and 2024.
• The Analyst Notebook training sessions were held in Belgrade (10–14 June 2024) and Tirana (23–27 September 2024) for FFP representatives from the Ministry of Interior in Serbia and the Albanian State Police. These trainings enhanced the strategic and operational capacities of FFPs, focusing on using the Analyst Notebook for firearms investigations, regional information exchange, and delivering analytical and strategic products.
• An Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) training for Bosnia and Herzegovina police in Sarajevo (22–24 July 2024) enhanced skills in internet investigations, data sourcing, and virtual currency analysis.
• Horizon Scanning and High-Value Targets Training designed to enhance the ability of FFPs to address new risks was organized in from 4-5 December 2024.
• Analyst trainings were held in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2–6 September 2024), Serbia (7–10 October 2024), and Montenegro (29 October–1 November 2024), Skopje (12-15 November 2024), Pristina (26-29 November 2024), and Tirana 3-6 December 2024), enhancing FFP representatives' capacities in firearms investigations, data analysis, and intelligence. Topics included national FFP responsibilities, databases, emerging threats like 3D-printed firearms, regulatory frameworks, tracing, and international cooperation.
• The knowledge product on the new technologies, "3D-Printed Firearms, State of Play, Challenges, and Law Enforcement Approach," was finalized. It explores the threat of 3D-printed firearms in the Western Balkans, offering recommendations, best practices, and strategies for police and judiciary intervention.

Capacities of authorities in Western Balkans to conduct crime scene investigations in accordance with relevant standards, EU good practices and guidelines strengthened:

• The Regional Workshop on Crime Scene Investigation was organized in Tirana on 15-16 November 2022 with the aim to train them on the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) best practice manuals and, specifically, on recovery of firearms, essential components, ballistic evidence, ammunition, explosives and explosives precursors.
• The regional Training on Photography and Custody Chain was organized from 9 to 11 May 2023.
• The Methodology for the assessment of the capacities of Crime Scene Investigation units in the Western Balkans to counter illicit possession and trafficking of firearms was developed and used as a baseline for an initial audit of the capacities of CSI Units.
• The initial audit of Crime Scene Investigation Units was conducted in Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and North Macedonia. The resulting Needs Assessment Reports, translated into local languages, were sent for review and endorsement to the relevant institutions. Based on the initial audit, an Action Plan for Preparing ISO/IEC 172020: 2012 accreditation for CSI units and Needs Assessment for CSI units reports were developed.
• Participants from several jurisdictions were supported to attend the ENFSI EWG Firearms and GSR Annual Meeting in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
• SEESAC compared the existing CSI Units' SOPs in the Western Balkans jurisdictions, , with the best practices of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). The comparison resulted in the Reports on Gap Analysis between the SOP for CSI and ENFSI best practices, which contains findings, recommendations, and a comparison table unique for each jurisdiction. The Report for CSI Units in the region were developed and sent to relevant institutions for endorsement. On 24 April 2024 in Sarajevo, at the margins of the regional criminal police meeting, SEESAC organized a dedicated meeting with CSI Unit representatives from each WB jurisdiction to present the findings and the above comparison table and ENFSI best practices, as well as discuss recommendations for amending existing CSI SOPs and further support.
• The Guidelines for drafting a quality manual for a CSI inspection body according to the standard ISO/IEC 17020:2012 were finalized, translated into local languages, and sent to relevant institutions in Western Balkans jurisdictions. Their purpose is to help the relevant authorities draft a Quality Management System (QMS) Manual that defines an organization's internal rules and usually includes policies, manuals, procedures, and work instructions necessary for ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accreditation.
• The Curriculum for the training of trainers on selected advanced CSI topics was developed.

Knowledge enhanced of factors fuelling demand and misuse of firearms in the Western Balkans:

• Based on the Methodology for Research on Demand and Misuse of Firearms in the Western Balkans, formulated to guide the planning of each research component, a detailed plan for applying quantitative and qualitative methods was finalized. Instruments were drafted, including a Questionnaire for the perception survey planned in the framework of the research and Guides for focus group discussions and key expert interviews. Upon finalization, the Pilot survey (for the quantitative phase - F2F interviews with 30 respondents, and for the qualitative phase - 1 FGD with potential firearms owners) was conducted. The instruments were subsequently reviewed based on the insights gained from the pilot survey and SEESAC’s review.  Fieldwork began in November 2024 and included at least 24 focus groups and 40 key informant interviews across all jurisdictions. Participants included firearms legal experts, licensing officers, FFP members, psychologists, prosecutors, arms owners and sellers, journalists, and representatives of hunting, sports, and shooting associations. A perception survey targeting citizens (1,000 per jurisdiction) was also conducted, with an emphasis on youth, ensuring at least 300 respondents aged 18–30 in each jurisdiction.
• Support to Victims of Armed Violence in the Western Balkans. As an integral part of the research, an analysis of Legal and Policy Frameworks for Supporting Victims of Armed Violence in the Western Balkans has been conducted, and a report has been reviewed by SEESAC team members. The document provides an overview of definitions of the term "victim" throughout the region and outlines regional and international legal frameworks while screening SALW control strategies and action plans with a focus on victims' rights..
• Study on Factors related to Popular Culture Shaping Firearm Demand and Risk Assessment in Western Balkans. To understand how online platforms and popular culture, as presented on the open public web, influence individuals' motivations to acquire and use firearms, a crucial part of the research is focused on studying online platforms and internet content associated with firearms. During the reporting period, the evaluation for selecting the agency to conduct the Popular Culture Online and Social Listening has been finalized. Following the selection of the agency, the methodology for the study was drafted. Additionally, keywords and sources for tracking were identified in close coordination with the agency, and the research has been set up in an online space for implementation.
• The Knowledge Product on Mapping Good Practices of Armed Violence Prevention Measures was finalized. It identifies and maps good practices, outlines the overall approach and principles for effective violence prevention, and provides an overview of promising practical measures for violence prevention.

Awareness and operational capacity to fight illicit and/or misuse of firearms raised among key beneficiaries:

• The Western Balkans Regional Awareness-raising Task Force related to misuse and illegal possession of firearms has been established.
• Six (6) WB Regional Awareness-raising Task Force meetings were organized on 22 June 2022, 4-5 October 2022, 4-5 April 2023, 3-5 October 2023, 3 to 4 April 2024, and 24-25 September 2024.
• Support was provided to the Ministry of Interior in Serbia with a speedy development and implementation of a public information and awareness-raising campaign for voluntary surrender, "Predaj oružje "in the immediate aftermath of two mass shootings in Serbia. The campaign was launched on 8 May 2023 and lasted until the end of June 2023, giving way to unprecedented results with the collection of 108,883 pieces of SALW and explosive ordinances and 4,242,139 pieces of ammunition.  
• As a follow-up to the 2023 voluntary surrender campaign, in January 2024, SEESAC procured and delivered 75 promotional overalls for the MoI Serbia. The overalls were designed for the MoI staff handling the surrendered weapons.
• Upon request, SEESAC supported the Ministry of Interior of Serbia with a media campaign against the misuse of pyrotechnics from 19 to 31 December 2023. SEESAC produced a 30-second high-quality promotional video and eight (8) info cards for Facebook and Instagram, distributed on TV stations and promoted via social media.
• SEESAC supported the awareness-raising campaign in Kosovo from June to September 2023 to address celebratory shootings during the summer months. The campaign involved preparatory meetings with local stakeholders and media, material distribution at the border crossing and in local communities, as well as nationally through social and traditional media and advertising. In preparation for the campaign, six focus groups were held, while in its aftermath, a survey was conducted with 700 Kosovo citizens and diaspora to assess the campaign's impact.
• SEESAC supported the new two-year awareness-raising effort by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kosovo and UNDP, which consists of several campaigns to reduce firearm supply, demand, and misuse through education, outreach and advocacy. The first campaign, launched on 8 July 2024, focused on the dangers of celebratory shooting, using social and traditional media, radio, and advertising. A promotional video in Albanian, Serbian, and English was widely shared, supported by engaging social media content and radio jingles, with plans to further expand outreach via YouTube.
• A regional social media campaign, "Celebrate with your heart -  #BetheStaroftheParty" developed and implemented in all local languages by SEESAC across six jurisdictions during the period of 23 December 2022 - 16 January 2023. The campaigns alerted the public on the dangers posed by celebratory shooting and the use of pyrotechnics.
• Collaboration was established with the network of 'Journalists Against Violence against Women' operating in Serbia. Members of the network have been engaged to: 1. Conduct regional training of journalists on ethical reporting of gender-based violence (GBV) incidents with a focus on those where SALW is used; 2. Conduct a regional analysis of media reporting of GBV incidents where SALW is used; 3. To develop guidelines for Ministries of Interior and Police Services on how to communicate with the media regarding cases of GBV with the use of SALW.
• A Regional Training of Journalists on Ethical Reporting of GBV Incidents with the Focus on Those Where SALW is Used was organized on 28-30 March 2023. Eighteen journalists from the region took part. The training was designed to improve their basic understanding of GBV, the influence of SALW in this context, the importance of ethical reporting and the consequences of unethical reporting, etc.
• An Analysis of Media Reporting of Firearm Misuse in Male Gender-based Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans was finalized by SEESAC and translated into all local languages, with its design in English, BCMS, and Albanian language finalized. The printed version was distributed to participants of the training in Albania in November, as well as to the participants of the 20th SALW Commissions meeting held in Skopje on 12 December 2024.
• Based on the results of the above-mentioned Analysis, the Guidelines for Ministries of Interior and Police Services on How to Better Communicate with the Media Regarding Incidents of Gender-based Violence with SALW were finalized, translated to all local languages, designed and published on the SEESAC website.
• A series of jurisdiction-level trainings on Ethics of Informing the Public on Gender-Based Violence with a Focus on Incidents with Firearm Misuse were developed for journalists and relevant representatives of the MoIs and Police Services were organized in Belgrade, Serbia, on 30 – 31 October 2023, in Skopje on 13-14 November 2023, in Podgorica on 27-28 November 2023, in Sarajevo on 11-12 December 2023, and in Pristina from 5 to 6 February 2024.
• The jurisdiction-level trainings on the Ethics of Informing the Public on Gender-Based Violence with a Focus on Incidents with Firearm Misuse for the representatives of the prosecutors' offices, MOI/police services, and journalists were held in Vrdnik (20-21 May 2024), Bjelasnica (1 – 2 July 2024), Skopje (15 – 16 July 2024) and Podgorica (14-15 October 2024), Durres (25-26 November 2024), and Pristina (9-10 December 2024). The trainings focused on enhancing how information about gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence involving firearms, is conveyed by prosecutors' offices to the media and public, as well as by the media to their audience.

Capacities for mainstreaming gender into SALW control by institutions in Western Balkans strengthened and gender perspective integrated in institutional work at strategic, legal and operational level:

• A regional analysis of the institutional response to the misuse of firearms in domestic violence is ongoing. To that end, a tailor-made methodology was developed, data collection from relevant institutions was initiated, and analysis of AVMP data for a five-year period (2019-2023) was conducted.
• SEESAC initiated the development of Guidelines for the first-line responders to assess and address risks related to the misuse of firearms in domestic violence. To that end, the Regional Working Group for the Prevention of the Use of Firearms in Domestic Violence through Risk Assessment was established, and two regional meetings of the Working Group were organized.
• In addition, SEESAC initiated the development of the Guidelines for gender-responsive firearm license approval. For that purpose, SEESAC established a Regional Working Group with professionals in charge of license approval and background checks from 5 Western Balkans jurisdictions. Two meetings of the Working Group were organized.
• To inform the development of Guidelines and regional analysis, comprehensive region-wide consultations were conducted through focus group discussions with officers dealing with firearms license approval, police officers specifically responding to domestic violence, and women’s organizations providing services to survivors of domestic violence. In total, 15 focus group discussions were organized with 68 police officers and 17 women’s civil society organizations. These focus groups resulted in 15 in-depth reports.
• Based on the inputs from the working groups, findings from the focus group discussions, and mapped good practices, SEESAC developed the draft versions of both Guidelines.
• Following the drafting of the guidelines, an additional round of consultations was held with members of the working groups to discuss the structure and content of the guidelines and propose amendments to ensure their practical application. In addition, five women’s organizations were engaged in the peer review process, paying particular attention to ensuring that concerns related to the safety of victims of domestic violence are adequately addressed.
• Based on the inputs from the working groups, findings from the focus group discussions, and mapped good practices, SEESAC finalized the Guidelines for Gender-Responsive Firearms License Approval and the Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence. Both knowledge products were officially launched on 21 June during a side event in the margins of RevCon4 of the UN Programme of Action in New York. They are available in English, Albanian, BCMS, and Macedonian.
• SEESAC organized a Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on the practical use of the Guidelines for Assessing and Addressing Risks Related to Firearms Misuse in Domestic Violence, in Herceg Novi from 27 to 31 May 2024 as an initial step in establishing a regional pool of trainers from five Western Balkan jurisdictions to share knowledge within their institutions. To support trainers, a training manual was developed and online support was provided, with sessions planned for 2025.
• The Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on the practical application of the Guidelines for Gender Responsive Firearms License Approval was organized from 4 to 8 November 2024 in Budva, Montenegro.
• The Advanced Regional Gender and SALW training for SALW Commissions held in Herceg Novi on 16-17 October 2024 aimed to enhance the institutional capacities for gender-responsive SALW control policymaking and facilitate interinstitutional cooperation between SALW commissions and gender equality agencies.
• The advanced draft report on the Regional Analysis of Women Participation in SALW Control was finalzied. This analysis, based on a bespoke research methodology developed in 2022, includes data collected from relevant institutions, in-depth interviews with over 40 men and women involved in SALW control in the Western Balkans, and an analysis of international, regional, and jurisdictional policy frameworks submitted by the consultant.
• Ahead of Revcon4,  SEESAC in cooperation with UNIDIR, organized an online regional briefing - Fostering Gender-Responsive Arms Control: Regional Perspectives from the Eastern European Region on 10 May 2024.

Main challenges encountered

N/A