Every day across the globe 1,500 people lose their lives in armed violence; each year 12 billion rounds are produced and every arms-related death is followed by another 28 cases of injury. These facts warn of the necessity to work continuously in promoting peace and disarmament.
To mark the Disarmament Week, a sculpture by Darko Sobot, Bosnian sculptor was unveiled at the United Nations House in Sarajevo on Wednesday 29 October 2014. This work of art brings the same message of non-violence and peace-building as sculptures such as ‘Nonviolence’ and ‘Swords to Plowshares’ which sit outside the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. From now on, the UN House in BiH will contain a constant reminder of the importance of the process of disarmament and the dangers of illegal weapons.
“United Nations has been supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina for 10 years in combating armed violence and reducing its weapons and ammunition stockpiles. Since 2004 more than 12,000 tons of ammunition and mines, over 145,000 weapons and all stocks of cluster munitions were destroyed. Today we repeat our strong commitment to helping country on its disarmament and peace building path”, stressed Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator in BiH.
The hazards caused by remnants of war became evident in the floods earlier this year causing mine migration in many areas. Equally worrisome is the data that at least 19% of households in the country possess weapons, and that 14% of children (14-16 years) and 26% of young people (17-19 years) are aware of the existence of weapons in their household and have had direct contact with these weapons.
Disarmament Week is marked every year from 24 to 30 October, and the fact that it coincides with the United Nations Day is a testament to importance the UN dedicates to the fight for disarmament and creating a safer world. The UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina marks a decade of disarmament activities in BiH, and two decades since the adoption of the concept of ‘Human Security’ at the global level.
Fast facts
Successes so far in disarmament process in BiH
· With the support of the UN, more than 12,000 tons of ammunition and mines and explosive ordnances was destroyed so far, over 145,000 weapons and all stocks of cluster munitions
· UN has deployed more than $ 15 million in the framework of the disarmament process in BiH
· Collected weapons are recycled and used for production of railway parts and windmills
· UN provides support to Coordination Board for Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)
· UN helped in drafting of 2013-2016 SALW Strategy for BiH
· This year UN and its partners marked the destruction of the six millionth piece of ammunition as a part of Project EXPLODE.
Current situation in BiH
· It is estimated that BiH has around 750,000 illegal weapons
· Illegal weapons are used in dozens of violent incidents every week
· Over 10,000 deaths since the war was caused by illegal weapons
· In BiH there are over 17,000 tonnes of surplus ammunition
· BiH is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with over 1,220 square km of mine suspected areas
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