Coalition for volunteer disarming

The media and the disarming process

At the press-conference that took place on 4 November this year, the informal NGO coalition for volunteer disarming which consists of the organizations: Journalists for women and children rights and protection of the environment in Macedonia, the Union of Macedonian Women Organizations (UMWO) and the National Association for Weapons, informed about the so far activities of the volunteer disarming action, as well as the future activities of each of these organizations.

The role of the media in the successful realization of the action was emphasized at the press-conference, sending an appeal to all media, especially the electronic ones, to pay more attention and give more space to the information regarding the action in their programmes. According to the president of the informal coalition, Natasha Dokovska, the reason for emphasizing this, is that journalists are asked to make the question of small and light weapons more sensible, since they have a great influence in raising the public awareness among citizens. The editors were asked to pay attention to what is being transmitted in the amnesty period, since it is illogical to present programmes in the central times, where the main goal is to talk about weapons and their use, even if it is done through a video game, said Dokovska.

The journalists were informed that since the action at the "shooting" line (an open telephone line of the NGO - Journalists for women and children rights and protection of the environment in Macedonia, on the tel. number 02/2462-590) started, there have been constant calls of citizens who are interested in the action.

D.M.