JOIN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE

A statement by Xhabir M. Deralla, President of CIVIL

The crisis of the early 21^st century is a crisis of humanity. Rise of violence and diminishing of human rights are appalling. Small arms are one of the main tools to maintain evil in the life of this civilization. When guns talk, democracy, freedom and human rights seize to exist.

Wars, crime, hatred, violence, maim, rape, and terror worldwide is carried out by small arms. The hard rain of bullets takes countless lives every day. Lords of war and dealers of death mount their bloodstained wealth on the back of the poor and manipulated people.

Administrations around the world produce agreements and legislation at one, weapons and ammunition at the other hand. They are big and strong. They will grow even bigger and stronger if we, the vast majority of the world, remain silent.

Join the longstanding struggle to overcome the horrors of today! It is up to you, my fellow citizen, to say no to guns and violence, no to hypocritical governments and merchants of misery. It is your undeniable right to live in a free society.

It takes lots of time and energy to make commitments; it needs responsibility and sincerity; personal struggle and sacrifice – to put an end to violence, to build a free society.

Public Appeal

GOVERNMENT

We appeal to the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, to consider continuation of the action for collection of the illegal arms through amnesty. In that respect, we appeal to the Government to include a wide range of relevant institutions in the process, not only the Ministry of Interior. Furthermore, we strongly recommend that the Government should include the civil society in the process, as well.

CITIZENS

We appeal to all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia to restrain from use of firearms during the forthcoming season of celebrations in the country. We remind the citizens that use of weapons may lead to tragedies, and its use in public and at celebrations is strictly forbidden by law. We advise the citizens to report any shooting to the police.

We appeal to all citizens to join efforts to overcome gun culture amongst children and youth. We all can contribute through our personal example.

LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES

We appeal to the leaders of the religious communities in the country to share the ideas of peaceful celebrations without firearms. Mention the peaceful dimension of you religion during your prayers and preach. Tell your followers that use of firearms leads to tragedy, violence, and trauma.

THE ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUES

GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE 2011
 

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Completion

Civil completed the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia. During the Week of Action (WoA), Civil has organized several events and made contact with numerous journalists, citizens, NGOs, and institutions.

Support

The WoA was conducted in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia. The WoA is a regular part of the Annual Program of Civil, which is supported by the Civica Mobilitas Program, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by the Center for Institutional Development.

Activities

At the beginning of the WoA, Civil organized a press conference, attended by journalists of four national TV broadcasters, several local TV and radio stations, and various news agencies and daily newspapers in the country.

The slam poetry event Words Against Bullets was organized at the very beginning of the WoA, right on midnight between Sunday and Monday (June 12/13).

In cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the MOI, Civil has organized a panel discussion Gun Culture Amongst Youth and Prevention and a lecture Gun Culture and Arms Control for teachers, parents, NGO representatives, municipality officials, and youth.

At the stand of Civil, placed in the center of the capital, our activists disseminated thousands of awareness raising materials (message cards, leaflets, and badges).

A DJ event (XhaD Against Guns), film screening (My First Bullet), and other events took place at various locations and time, aimed at awareness raising on arms control issues.

Inspired by citizens and participants to our events, we extracted three target groups to reinforce our public message: the government, all citizens, and the leaders of religious communities in the Republic of Macedonia. This is to make sure that the action against gun violence continues beyond the end of the WoA, as it is supposed to be.

GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE 2011, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - PROGRAM

МАКЕДОНСКИ       SHQIP

Sunday midnight, June 12/13

WORDS AGAINST BULLETS

Slam poetry event

Hosts: Xhabir M. Deralla and Antoine Le Roux

Monday, June 13

11:30-12:30	Press conference Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia 2011 Presentation: Xhabir M. Deralla, President of Civil Club Menada, Skopje Old Town
14:00-16:00	Civil Coffee Time Citizens and NGO activists are welcomed to the premises of Civil to discuss on arms control issues in the country and the world

Tuesday, June 14

11:30-13:30	Civil INFO Stand Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia 2011 Square Macedonia, Skopje
14:00-16:00	Civil Coffee Time Citizens and NGO activists are welcomed to the premises of Civil to discuss on arms control issues in the country and the world

Wednesday, June 15

13:00-15:00	Panel discussion GUN CULTURE AMONGST YOUTH AND HOW TO PREVENT IT Participants: representatives of Civil, MoI, OSCE, teachers, NGOs, media Moderator: Xhabir M. Deralla, President of Civil Club of the Citizens of European Macedonia (GEM), Skopje Old Town
14:00-16:00	Civil Coffee Time Citizens and NGO activists are welcomed to the premises of Civil to discuss on arms control issues in the country and the world

Thursday, June 16

13:00-14:30	Lecture GUN CULTURE AND ARMS CONTROL Co-organized by the Primary School “Marko Cepenkov” and the Municipality of Zelenikovo, Skopje Participants: representatives of Civil, local government, school authorities, MoI, OSCE, teachers, council of parents, NGOs, media Lecturers: Xhabir M. Deralla, President of Civil and a representative of the MOI Conference Hall, Municipality of Zelenikovo
14:30-15:30	Reception Hosted by the Municipality of Zelenikovo and OSCE Mission to Skopje
22:00-01:00	DJ XhaD Club Menada, Skopje Old Town

Friday, June 17

11:30-13:30	Civil INFO Stand Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia 2011 Square Macedonia, Skopje
14:00-16:00	Civil Coffee Time Citizens and NGO activists are welcomed to the premises of Civil to discuss on arms control issues in the country and the world
20:30-22:00	My First Shot (produced by BICC and Civil, 2004) Screening and discussions Club of the Citizens of European Macedonia (GEM), Skopje Old Town

Saturday, June 18

11:30-13:30	Civil INFO Stand Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia 2011 Square Macedonia, Skopje
14:00-16:00	Civil Coffee Time Citizens and NGO activists are welcomed to the premises of Civil to discuss on arms control issues in the country and the world

Sunday, June 19

11:30-13:30	Civil INFO Stand Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia 2011 Square Macedonia, Skopje
14:00-16:00	Evaluation meeting Civil premises

The program of activities for the Week of Action is usually kept open to ideas and initiatives that may come from the project team, members, activists, and citizens.

Civil has designed and produced badges, message cards, banner, and a large quantity of informative handouts in Macedonian, Albanian and English language that will be disseminated throughout the Week of Action and beyond.

Also click at:

http://www.civil.org.mk/

http://www.civil-mk.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/civil.mk 

http://twitter.com/#!/CivilMacedonia

http://www.youtube.com/user/CivilOrgMK

www.iansa.org

www.gunpolicy.org  

The Annual Program of Civil is supported by the Civica Mobilitas Programme, which is implemented by the Center for Institutional Development (CIRa), and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia is financially supported by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA, www.iansa.org).

The Week of Action is conducted in cooperation with the OSCE Monitoring Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia.

WORDS AGAINST BULLETS

GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 2011

PRESS CONFERENCE
11:30h at the Mendada Club, Skopje Old Town
Presenter: Xhabir M. Deralla, President of Civil

The global initiative of IANSA, arms control issues in the country and the world, and Civil's Initial Program of Activities during the Week of Action will be presented at the press conference of Civil on Monday, June 13. The program of activities for the Week of Action is usually kept open to ideas and initiatives that may come from the project team, members, activists, and citizens.

Civil has designed and produced badges, message cards, banner, and a large quantity of informative handouts in Macedonian, Albanian and English language that will be disseminated throughout the Week of Action and beyond. 

The Annual Program of Civil is supported by the Civica Mobilitas Programme, which is implemented by the Center for Institutional Development (CIRa), and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the Republic of Macedonia is financially supported by the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA, www.iansa.org)

The Week of Action is conducted in cooperation with the OSCE Monitoring Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia.