Firearms and Domestic Violence in the Western Balkans

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Firearms and Domestic Violence in the Western
Balkans

• Ciara Loughney, SEESAC SALW Awareness Officer
• COST Action A25 Final Conference
• Impact of Armed Violence regarding Gender and Age
• Brussels, 17-19 March 2008

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Contents

• Introduction
• Research question
• Methodology
• Methodological issues
• Data collection constraints
• Main findings
• Value of research
• Way forward

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SEESAC/UNDP

• UNDP 8 Point Agenda
• SEESAC Strategy for Gender Issues in Arms Control
  and Armed Violence Prevention (SEE)

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Research Question

• Lack of data on impact of firearms in domestic
  violence
• High levels of firearms and domestic violence in
  the Western Balkans
• Advocacy-oriented research
• Focus on Western Balkans

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Methodology

• Local and Lead Researchers
• Review of global best practices
• Desk research
• Interviews/questionnaires with professionals,
  service providers
• Focus on legislation and practice
• Recommendations

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Methodological Issues

• Timing
• Attitude/knowledge of some officials
• Focus on EU legislation
• Focus on legislation cf. implementation
• Language
• Urban/rural divide

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Data Collection Constraints

• Lack of data on armed violence, DV, cause of
  injuries (SEESAC study)
• Lack of gender-disaggregated data on victims of
  crime
• Lack of research into firearms and DV
• Lack of centralised data collection systems
• Lack of data on court practice

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Main Findings

• Legislation on firearms and DV in the region is
  not adequately aligned
• Too easy for perpetrators to obtain a firearm
• Existing legislation is not adequately enforced
• Protection orders rarely ordered or implemented

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Value of Research

• Filled important research gap
• Timing
• Awareness-raising through research process
• Civil society engagement
• Methodology can be adapted and used elsewhere

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Way Forward

• Build civil society networks and capacity
• Identify country priorities and needs
• Support civil society advocacy work, especially
  changes to legislation
• Share experience between countries
• Support further research

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• www.seesac.org
• Firearms Possession and Domestic Violence in the
  Western Balkans A Comparative Study of
  Legislation and Implementation Mechanisms
• Strategic Overview of Armed Violence Data
  Collection Mechanisms (South Eastern Europe)