On Saturday, 17 October 2020, 12 police agencies from Bosnia and Herzegovina together with the SALW Coordination Board destroyed  1,864 pieces of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their parts and components in the Jelšingrad industrial smelting facility in Banja Luka proving the country’s commitment to international arms control frameworks, safety of its citizens and regional and international security and stability.

The event was funded by the European Union (EU) though UNDP SEESAC and supported by UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The SALW was collected by the police agencies through a range of law enforcement activities and some of the weapons were voluntarily surrendered by the citizens.  

The objective of the event was to increase public safety and security, as well as to diminish the risk of SALW proliferation by significantly reducing the number of weapons in BiH.

This activity contributes to the SALW Strategy of BIH, but also to the implementation of the Regional Roadmap for SALW control. Since 2017, authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with support from the EU, UNDP BIH and UNDP SEESAC, disposed of more than 18,500 SALW and their parts and components. With weapons and ammunition systematically destroyed, Bosnia and Herzegovina is highlighting once more its commitment to combating arms trafficking, for the safety and security of its citizens and the entire region.

Background info:

In South East Europe, trafficking of SALW and their ammunition still poses a threat to the security and stability of the region. Since 2002, UNDP SEESAC assisted the authorities in the region of South East Europe to destroy over 338,000 pieces of SALW.  This activity is financed through EU Council Decision (CFSP ) 2019/2111 which continues to support SALW destruction events in the region, building on achievements under the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2356. It is in line with goals of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Western Balkans by 2024’ (the ‘Roadmap’) , adopted at the Western Balkans Summit in London in 2018. Specifically, it contributes to the Goal 7 aimed at a significant decrease of the risk of proliferation and diversion of firearms, ammunition and explosives, and Goal 6 aimed at a systematic decrease of surplus and destruction of seized SALW and ammunition.

SEESAC is a joint initiative of UNDP and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). www.seesac.org