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  • What we do

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    • Clearing explosives

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    • Africa

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Two men in wearing face masks and gloves clean guns on a work table

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s declaration of independence from the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991 triggered the Bosnian War. In the devastating fighting that followed, it is estimated that 100,000 people were killed and two million were displaced.

When the war ended in 1995 with the Dayton Peace Agreement, two separate regional entities were established, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.

The conflict left a legacy of weapon stockpiles within the Balkans. Coupled with high numbers of civilian owned firearms, this increases the probability of diversion for unlawful use—brought sharply into focus by the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris in 2015. Illicit gun trafficking is recognised as a security threat, not just for European countries but throughout the world.

A gun being marked by a machine in Bosnia Herzegovina

Our work

Managing weapons

HALO has been active in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2017, helping the government meet its obligations in relation to the control of guns. We are currently working in partnership with Small Arms Survey, the Ministry of Defence, BiH Armed Forces and European Union Force Althea (EUFOR), to establish a sustainable and comprehensive weapons management system, reducing the risk of illicit gun ownership and trafficking.

We have completed the initial preparatory phase of the project and are now conducting training in marking, registration and record keeping. We are also sourcing equipment and developing the necessary infrastructure and support for the inventory and marking of all weapons held by the military.

A man holds a gun over a tray of liquid

Our impact

"By reducing the stockpile of weapons and simultaneously marking and registering guns within government or civilian ownership, we can limit the illicit smuggling and exchange of weapons and make a tremendous contribution to safety and security in BiH."
Colonel Martin Trachsler, SAWAD/EUFOR, Bosnia

Thanks to the support of UNSCAR, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Norwegian MoD, HALO hopes to complete the marking and registration of all weapon stockpiles in Bosnia and Herzegovina by December 2020, contributing to safety and security across the region and beyond.

By providing the training necessary to manage these systems, we are ensuring the National Authorities have the skills and capacity to meet their obligations on gun control in the years to come.

Stories from Europe and Caucasus

A person in a HALO vest and visor carefully handling a box among a stockpile of weapons in Honduras
Security sector transformation in Honduras
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Captain Flores, in the practice of the EOD level 3 course, together with a HALO technician.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Authorizes Demining and Weapons Security
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Duke of Sussex with HALO team and local community children.
HALO Trust Impact Report 2024: Your Support in Landmine Clearance and Community Recovery
Read more
Head of Vasylivka village, Ivan Gentosh, stands next to the Inhulets river where hundreds of explosives were cleared.
From hazard to harvest
Read more
HALO Leads NGO Demining Community Sign-On Letter
HALO Leads NGO Demining Community Sign-On Letter
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HALO global strategy 2025–2028
HALO global strategy 2025–2028
Read more

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Eight year old Manuel, is missing a leg. He walks on crutches at a rehabilitation centre in Angola

Clear a landmine, save a life

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Our work in Bosnia and Herzegovina is funded by:

The German Federal Foreign Office
The German Federal Foreign Office
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Norwegian Ministry of Defence
The UK Government
The UK Government
UNSCAR
UNSCAR

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CARRONFOOT, THORNHILL, DUMFRIES, DG3 5BF

The HALO Trust is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 2228587. Registered Charity No. 1001813 and (in Scotland) SC037870. Registered Office: One Bartholomew Close, Barts Square, London EC1A 7BL

The HALO Trust (USA), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization US Federal Tax ID Number 52-2158152
Office: 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 206, Washington, DC 20036 

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