Belgrade, December 27, 2022 The comments and suggestions of the Autonomous Women's Center were given primarily from the aspect of prevention and combating gender-based violence and domestic violence, with the aim of establishing the most efficient system of protection and adequate response of all competent institutions relevant to this area.

Misuse of firearms is indisputably linked to the perpetration of gender-based violence and domestic violence, regardless of the form of violence itself, and the possession of firearms is recognized as a significant risk factor. In order to take preventive action to suppress gender-based violence and domestic violence committed with the use of firearms, it is necessary to constantly improve the legal framework in the area of possession of firearms.

The connection between gender-based violence and violence against women and the misuse of weapons is recognized in numerous international and domestic documents and laws, and the AWC referred to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the report of the Council of Europe's Expert Group on Combating against violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO) on legislative and other measures of the Republic of Serbia, General recommendation no. 30 of the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, about women in conflict prevention, conflict situations and post-conflict situations, concluding observations regarding the Fourth Periodic Report of the Republic of Serbia on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Strategy for Preventing and Combating Gender-Based Violence according to women and domestic violence for the period 2021-2025 and the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence.

You can see the comments and suggestions of AWC HERE.