Global Action Week against Armed Violence Starts in Macedonia

04 June 2008

Under the dark shadow of the violent incidents that took place at last Sunday`s Parliamentary Elections, the Civil nongovernmental organization launched the Macedonian campaign against armed violence, which is part of the Global Action Week against Armed Violence, June 2-9, 2008.

`There is no bigger threat to democracy and human rights than gun violence. Through this campaign we want to warn people that the devaluation of democracy and the free choice of citizens, devalues the system as a whole`, said Xhabir Deralla, the President of Civil at the press conference.

Derala said at the opening of the campaign that the ballot day incidents were another indicator that there are too much illegal arms in Macedonia.

-It is unacceptable for arms to have the final say in a democratic process, in a country that wants to be democratic, says Derala, adding that Civil`s data show that between 100,000 and 170,000 citizens of Macedonia posess illegal weapons.

`Efforts to bring the topic of proliferation and the misuse of small arms to prominence highlight a concern of citizens throughout the world. The violence here over the weekend underscores the importance of tackling this topic which has been earlier identified as an important community policing matter, namely the prevention of gun violence in local communities`, said Bruno Hederman, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission\'s Police Development Department.

This year, the Action Week organized by IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms) is of particular importance because of the Biennial Meeting of States at the UN, next month, that will discuss the global arms control and should result in signing of the global Treaty on Arms Trade.

In that context, Civil invited all former and future MPs in the Sobranie of Macedonia to sign the Declaration for Global Arms Control, on June 9.

This year`s campaign is implemented in cooperation with the `Baskerfest` street arts festival and will include open air parties on the Makedonija Square in Skopje, workshops and distribution of promotional material.