JSAC Organizes Small Arms Awareness Campaign and School Peace Event for United Nations Small Arms Day (July 9)

Phnom Penh, July 14, 2006
Japan Assistance Team for Small Arms Management in Cambodia (JSAC) is conducting a small arms awareness campaign and a school peace event in Phnom Penh Municipality on the occasion of United Nations Small Arms Day on July 9, under the cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, Phnom Penh Municipality, and the Ministry of Education.

During the first week of July, 50 anti-weapon banners were installed in populous places and streets, such as markets, parks, secondary schools and commercial venues. On July 6 and 7, JSAC staff installed posters and distributed anti-gun stickers and explanations of the Arms Law to raise public awareness on small arms. This campaign had particular strong impact in the Toek Thla Market Area, where the Market Committee provided their full support in delivering the anti-weapon message to their community.

JSAC will also conduct a gun awareness and cross-cultural peace exchange event in Boeng Keng Kong High School, Phnom Penh, on July 17, 2006. The event aims to increase the students’ understanding of guns, peace and safety. The students will also be invited to exchange views with Japanese students their age. They will receive letters from Japanese children, and write or draw a message in response regarding guns and peace in Cambodia. This will be delivered to the same Japanese children afterwards.

JSAC is a team for implementing “Peace Building and Comprehensive Small Arms Management Program in Cambodia”, established by Japan International Cooperation System (JICS). This program is the first Japanese Government Grant Aid Program for conflict prevention and peace building. JSAC has implemented its weapons collection and other peace building activities in the northwest areas of Cambodia (Otdar Mean Chey Province, Banteay Mean Chey Province, and Siem Reap Province) and is currently focusing on Battambang Province and Kompong Thom Province. The number of small arms collected through JSAC activities since 2003 is now 20,852.

ENDS

Note to Editors: July 9th is named United Nations “Small Arms Destruction Day” after the first major international conference on small arms held at the UN on July 9-20 in 2001. Internationally, events are organized on this day for awareness raising and advocacy on small arms issues.