Project: Targeting weapons - misuse of weapons in Serbia06May2016
Research Targeting Weapons in the Spotlight of the Week of Action Against Gun Violence 2016
The UNDP-SEESAC's research "Targeting Weapons" which realization was comissioned to the Public Policy Research Centre is in the spotlight of a campaign Hear out the Voice of the Victims. The campaign is a part of the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence 2016 which is scheduled for May 1-8, 2016. It is conducted in 85 countries worldwide and is organized by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA). The global week aims to present methods to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons; it raises awareness of increase levels in armed violence and its consequences. Also, it promotes the UN's Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
Victimology society of Serbia (VDS) in cooperation with UNDP-SEESAC organizes the above-mentioned campaign in Serbia. In its report, the VDS relies on the findings presented in the Targeting Weapons research. The VDS quoted that a half of all the fireamrs victims in Serbia is among young people aged 18 to 35 years. In 72% of the cases, victims and perpetrators are family members, friends, neighbors or acquaintances. According to the research, death is the most common result of the domestic armed violence.
The research is based on the analysis of 470 citizens' opinions about the arms possessions gathered on an online platform "Targeting Weapons" established by SEESAC. Furthermore, this research also included print media reports which were primarily concerned with the type of weapon used in an incident and illicit possession, sex and age of victims and perpetrators, their relations, outcome of the incident, characteristics of a settlement (urban vs. rural) and spatial environment, time of a day and year.
Pistols and revolvers (39%) are the most commonly used in incidents, while the usage of illicit weapons is more often than the usage of legally-owned ones. Most abuse of firearms is associated with crime (38%), quarrels about money, property or jealousy (9.75%) and domestic violence (6.25%). The highest number of incidents occurred in urban areas, most often on a road or street. Men are perpetrators 32 times more often than women, and women are 5 times more often victims than men. Finally, 46% of the respondents has a positive attitude towards guns possession with an explaination of the necessity for self-defense. However, the absolute majority is against carrying weapons in the public, expect for the security forces in very restrictive circumstances and in a case of indisputable security threat to all citizens.
Parts of the research were reported by Tanjug, N1, and B92, whereas the complete research is available here (in Serbian).