KUNDUZ - Schoolchildren in Afghanistan’s north-eastern province of Kunduz held a protest march recently, calling for limits on the sale of toy guns in local markets.

Instead, the children, supported by civil society groups, called on local traders and shopkeepers – who were later handed printed messages promoting peace education – to sell more books and pens for them.

“We want the traders to import books, notebooks and pens instead of the toy guns; we want to study and serve our country,” said an eight-year-old boy, Adeebullah, holding a placard carrying a message against toy guns.

“I want my friends not to use and play with toy guns,” he added.

The United Nations encourages a culture of peace and non-violence, which involves a commitment to peace education and education for non-violence, amongst other approaches.

During her visit to Afghanistan in May, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, advocated for education and other peace-building initiatives in Afghanistan, which has been affected by armed conflict for over three decades.

A child protection officer with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), Bismillah Waziri, criticized the import of toy guns and explosive novelty materials for the children of Kunduz province, which has seen a rise in the activities of various armed groups and anti-government elements.

“Let’s replace a negative culture of violence with a positive culture by investing in our children and educating them,” said Mr. Waziri. The AIHRC and the Kunduz Culture and Media Communication Foundation (KCMCF) were the co-organizers of the protest march.

The unrestricted sale of toy guns and explosive novelty items in Kunduz during the Eid religious holidays has become a serious social problem. Some families say the items not only have negative cultural and psychological impacts on children, they also add financial strains to struggling families.

The head of the KCMCF, Zabihullah Majidi, said that importing and selling toy guns introduces and reinforces violence among children, and called for local authorities to pay attention to “this serious problem.”

According to the spokesperson of the Kunduz police department, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, banning the import and sale of toy guns and other explosive novelty items is in the department’s plan.

In interviews following the protest march, some traders and shopkeepers voiced their support for the children’s message.

“From now on, I won’t import toy guns, and will bring goods which my people like. I want to participate in the reconstruction of my country through my business,” said one of the traders, Abdul Shakoor.