Raising the awareness of Portuguese children about the problem of illegal weapons: that was the aim of the celebration called “Disarming Hearts”, organized by the National Commission of Justice and Peace, a lay association promoted by the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, and held in Lisbon on 28 October. “Transmitting to the new generations the ideal of non-violence, also through a celebration with music, dancing and stage shows, is a fundamental task”, points out the Commission, which on 8 November 2005 launched a public campaign “for a safe society free from weapons”, and against the holding of illegal weapons in Portugal. A protocol established with the government then permitted the awareness-raising campaign to be conducted on a national scale, aimed at the voluntary handing in of all illegal weapons; the amnesty remains open until 24 December. Today, 8 November, the Commission will hold a press conference on illegal weapons in Portugal.
