Five years after pledging to stem the illegal flow of firearms within and throughout the region, Caribbean States and regional and international partners met in Trinidad and Tobago to assess progress achieved and agree on priorities for the next five years.
High-level representatives from the 15 CARICOM States and the Dominican Republic convened in Trinidad and Tobago from 11 to 12 November 2025 for the Fifth Annual Meeting of States of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, a decade-long strategy to curb the illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition by 2030. The meeting was attended by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Joanna Kazana; Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones, Executive Director of the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime & Security (IMPACS); The Honourable Roger Alexander, Minister of Homeland Security and high-level government representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as members of the international community and the diplomatic corps accredited to Trinidad and Tobago.
The 2025 Annual Meeting of States, organized by Roadmap co-custodians, CARICOM IMPACS, and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and with funding from Canada, marked a significant milestone: the midpoint of the Roadmap’s implementation period. The meeting thus served as an inflection point for assessing progress, discussing persistent challenges, and reviewing recommendations emerging from the Mid-Term Review, which were presented at the meeting.
On 11 November, national focal points and monitoring and evaluation experts met to review technical progress and share experiences in implementing and reporting on the Roadmap. On 12 November, a high-level ministerial segment took place, dedicated to reviewing the findings and recommendations of the Mid-Term Review of the Roadmap, reaffirming political commitment, and underscoring the urgency of accelerating implementation efforts.
Mid-Term Review: A Region at a Crossroads
Illicit firearms and ammunition continue to drive high levels of homicides and crime across many Caribbean countries, posing significant threats to public safety and human security. The resulting violence also hinders wider socioeconomic development, negatively affects public health systems, discourages investment, and weakens business growth.
Midway through the Roadmap’s implementation, a Mid-Term Review highlighted the significant progress. Thirteen States have developed National Action Plans (NAPs) to combat illicit firearms trafficking, aligning the Roadmap’s strategic priorities with their national contexts, reflecting strong national-level commitment. The Mid-Term Review, which was presented at the Meeting of States, highlighted improvements in firearm legislation, enhanced law enforcement capacity, and stronger regional intelligence coordination.
However, the Review also pointed to persistent and uneven challenges. While some countries have made notable strides, others continue to experience rising levels of armed violence. Limited funding, political transitions, and inconsistent data reporting have hindered implementation efforts. Moreover, the Roadmap must strengthen its integration with broader national and regional security and violence prevention strategies. It should also promote more inclusive participation, particularly of women, youth and community leaders, with a view to addressing armed violence in a holistic and sustainable manner, beyond the narrow lens of security.
In an effort to consolidate and widely showcase the progress of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, UNLIREC has developed a virtual gallery featuring interactive rooms that highlight the joint work undertaken by States and implementing partners, visualizing five years of progress and implementation.
Across the Caribbean, gun violence remains one of the region’s most persistent public-safety challenges. Yet, despite these disparities, the overall trajectory is encouraging. Most countries are moving in the right direction, having demonstrated commitment and progress in implementing the Roadmap over the past five years. However, levels of gun violence remain unacceptably high, underscoring the urgency of sustained and coordinated action. The Roadmap continues to be a relevant strategy to guide national and regional efforts, but its implementation must be accelerated to realize the shared visions of a safer Caribbean by 2030.
Background
The Caribbean Firearms Roadmap is a regional umbrella framework adopted by CARICOM States and the Dominican Republic in 2020, in which States committed themselves to implement concrete actions to combat illicit firearms trafficking and make the Caribbean a safer region. Sixteen countries in the region have formally adopted the Roadmap, with thirteen having developed National Action Plans, which tailor the Roadmap’s framework to their unique national contexts.
The Roadmap signifies a commitment by Caribbean States to implement sustainable solutions to prevent and combat armed violence and crimes that are aligned with international norms and the broader goal of promoting sustainable peace, security, and development across the Caribbean.
About UNLIREC
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) is one of three regional centres under the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Since its establishment in 1986, UNLIREC has worked to promote peace, security and disarmament throughout the region.
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From 8 – 10 October, In a step toward combating illicit arms trafficking in the Caribbean, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in collaboration with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC),carried out a Serial Number Restoration Course for participants from the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.
This course was developed to support States’ efforts to restore the characters and numbers that have been removed from firearms and to trace firearms. The 3-day course consisted of recorded videos, live demonstrations, as well as hands-on use of Magnaflux and Chemical Etching to restore/recover serial numbers from firearms that have been obliterated and submitted for analysis.
The training equipped six officials, including one woman, from the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force and the Forensic Drug Laboratory, with specialized techniques to recover obliterated serial numbers from firearms, a critical tool in tracing weapons used in criminal activities.
In the Caribbean, several factors hinder the ability of States to trace the totality of recovered illicit firearms, including the age of the firearm, ineffective procedures, absence of serial numbers on firearms and the lack of capacity to unmask the origin of illicit firearms. Throughout the region, restoration techniques have been used to support criminal investigations and successfully trace weapons and even disband trafficking networks.
UNLIREC, as the regional arm of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
The Serial Number Restoration Course contributes towards the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, “Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean.
This activity was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of the United States and contributes to the implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
From 16 to 19 September 2025, law enforcement and customs officials from Barbados and Grenada took part in a training course aimed at tackling illicit firearms trafficking in the Caribbean. Hosted virtually, the Combating Trafficking in Arms and Ammunition (CTAM) course, organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), brought together 48 participants from both States, marking a significant step in the region’s fight against the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition.
The course is part of a broader initiative funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States of America. The training is aligned with key international frameworks, including the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms, the Arms Trade Treaty and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The course unfolded in two phases: the first phase, from 16 to 17 September 2025 involved thirty (30) officials from The Barbados Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force. This course was organized in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister – National Security Department and the Office of the Attorney General – The Police Department.
The second phase, from 18 to 19 September 2025, included eighteen (18) participants from the Royal Grenada Police Force and the Grenda Customs and Excise Department. The training was conducted in collaboration with key local institutions such as Grenada’s Ministry of National Security, Home Affairs, Public Administration, Information and Disaster Management and the Royal Grenada Police Force.
The course aimed to equip national authorities with the knowledge and technical tools necessary to implement strategies to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition in accordance with international instruments. In this regard, an overview of trafficking trends in Latin America and the Caribbean was presented, as well as the methods used for the illicit manufacture and trafficking in firearms including privately manufactured firearms in the region.
Experts also examined the role of control systems and the documentation of international transfers of firearms and ammunition to prevent and combat trafficking. The course included presentations by The Barbados Police Service, the Royal Grenada Police Force and United Nations subject matter experts. They focused on firearms trafficking trends, the licensing and importation/exportation of firearms, parts, components and accessories in both countries.
This course contributes towards regional efforts to prevent the illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition, thereby reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean. It also supports the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, a regional umbrella framework adopted by CARICOM States and the Dominican Republic in 2020, in which States commit themselves to implement actions against illicit firearms trafficking and make the Caribbean a safer region.
On 12 September 2025, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), in collaboration with its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) convened a virtual Regional Briefing on Security and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. Theevent served as a preparatory dialogue aheadof the eightieth session of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.
The briefing brought together government representatives from 29 States across the region, including national focal points on disarmament, security and technology experts based in capitals, and delegates from Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York. Participating States included: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The session provided a platform to exchange views and concerns on the rapid evolution of science and technology and its impact on international peace and security. Discussions covered both political processes and substantive issues on information and communications technologies (ICTs), the proliferation and misuse of armed uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the application of artificial intelligence in the military domain.
Regional experts, alongside representatives from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and UNODA, explored the implications of emerging technologies for regional and global security. UNODA also shared updates on ongoing multilateral discussions, noting the growing momentum among States to address these challenges collectively.
Delegations emphasized that emerging technologies are reshaping the security landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region is facing the misuse of armed drones, rising threats from cybercrime, and the integration of artificial intelligence into daily life and defense systems. Participants underscored the importance of sustained regional dialogue and cooperation to address these evolving challenges.
As reflected in the Pact for the Future, adopted by UN Member States in September 2024, there is an urgent need to harness the benefits of new and emerging technologies whilst mitigating the risks associated with their misuse. This commitment is also evident in the growing number of intergovernmental debates and First Committee resolutions on those issues.
From August 12 to 14, 2025, more than 50 female non-commissioned officers from the 2025 graduating class of the National Police Technical and Vocational Training School in San Bartolo, Lima, took part in an introductory course on ballistics intelligence and the fight against illicit firearms trafficking.
The training, designed exclusively for women in law enforcement, was organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Police of Peru.
The program covered key topics including the regional context of armed violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, ballistics intelligence, firearm and ammunition identification, components and markings, serial number restoration, forensic ballistics and evidence handling, illicit weapons manufacturing, and international cooperation in firearms tracing and special investigative techniques. A mix of theoretical and hands-on sessions aimed to strengthen the technical capacities of the participants.
The initiative comes at a time when women remain underrepresented in Peruvian law enforcement agencies. According to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, only 16.47% of non-commissioned officers in the National Police are women, a figure that drops to just 12.07% among commissioned officers. These numbers highlight the ongoing gender gap in the security sector and underscore the importance of equipping women with the tools and knowledge to play a more active role in reducing armed violence.
This training not only seeks to enhance the Peruvian National Police’s effectiveness in combating illicit arms trafficking, but also to empower the next generation of female officers with strategic and technical skills—advancing both public security and gender equity within the police force.
This initiative is aligned with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 65/69 on Women, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, as well as gender-related recommendations from the most recent Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA RevCon4), which calls on states to promote the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in arms control and the fight against illicit trafficking.
The activity was made possible with support from the Government of Canada, under the “Women, Disarmament and Youth” project.
In a regional push to combat illicit arms trafficking and strengthen firearm security, six Eastern Caribbean nations participated in a Armoury Management Course held from July 8 to 18, 2025, in St. George’s, Grenada.
The training was delivered by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) in collaboration with the Government of the Grenada and with financial support from the United States of America’s Department of State – Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Sixteen (16) participants, including two (2) women, from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines took part in the intensive program, which was hosted at Camp Saline in the southern part of the island.
The Armoury Management Course formed part of a broader U.S., funded initiative “Combating Illicit Firearms and Ammunition Trafficking in the Caribbean – Phase II.” The aim of the course was to supplement the manufacturer-based training received by Armourers and equip them with the knowledge, skills and abilities for small arms ammunition control and management; as well as general stockpile management training designed to prevent loss, theft and diversion of small arms and ammunition.
This training aligns with the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms, the Arms Trade Treaty and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also contributes to theCaribbean Firearms Roadmap,particularly Goal 4, which seeks to minimize the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government- and non-government-owned arsenals and specifically Target 4.1, which calls for secure firearms and ammunition storage facilities and management practices in accordance with international guidelines, including the Modular Small-Arms-Control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) , and UN SaferGuard’s (IATG).
