UN in BiH Marks Disarmament Week

On the occasion of Disarmament Week, a sculpture by academic sculptor Darko Šobot was unveiled in front of the United Nations building in Sarajevo yesterday. This work of art carries the same message of non-violence and peacebuilding as the sculptures 'Non-violence' and 'Turn Swords into Plowshares' that stand in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, it was announced by UNDP, reports the BiH news agency Patria.

From now on, the UN agencies' headquarters in BiH will also serve as a constant reminder of the importance of the disarmament process and the dangers posed by illegal weapons. Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator in BiH, stated that the UN has been supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against armed violence and the reduction of weapons and ammunition stockpiles for 10 years.

- Since 2004, more than 12,000 tons of ammunition and explosive devices, over 145,000 pieces of weapons, and all quantities of cluster munitions have been destroyed. Today, we reaffirm our strong commitment to assisting the country on its path to disarmament and peacebuilding - said Afanasiev.

This year's floods, which caused the movement of minefields in many areas, have shown the dangers that can arise from the remnants of war. Equally disturbing are the data that at least 19% of households in BiH possess weapons, and that 14% of children (14-16 years old) and 26% of young people (17-19 years old) are aware of the presence of weapons in their households and have had direct contact with them.

Disarmament Week is observed every year from October 24 to 30, and the fact that its beginning coincides with United Nations Day testifies to the importance the UN places on the fight for disarmament and the creation of a safer world. The UN in Bosnia and Herzegovina is also marking 10 years of disarmament activities in BiH, and 20 years since the adoption of the concept of 'human security' at the global level.

Watch the video about the creation of this sculpture here