GenerAccion Paz: A Year of Transformative Youth Commitment for a Region Free of Armed Violence
LIMA, 24 April (United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean) — On 24 April, the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean celebrated a year of youth commitment to building a Latin America region free of armed violence through hosting a dedicated webinar on its “GenerAccion Paz” initiative.
The webinar showcased the achievements of the inaugural edition of the “GenerAccion Paz: building dreams, disarming violence” programme, an initiative by the Regional Centre, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Peru, aimed at empowering Latin American youth to foster a more peaceful and secure region from within their communities. Following opening remarks by Soledad Urruela, Director of the Regional Centre, who emphasized the vital role of youth participation in strengthening peace and security across the region, participants from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela shared their personal testimonies.
Between July 2024 and March 2025, the participants followed specialized training focused on the impact of armed violence on the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as effective violence prevention strategies. Armed with this knowledge and with the support of dedicated mentors, each participant designed a personal project aimed at reducing armed violence in their community. “By utilizing tools such as art, sports and their creative communication skills, along with the knowledge they gained throughout the programme, participants developed initiatives to prevent, reduce and raise awareness about armed violence in communities significantly affected by this issue,” Ms. Urruela remarked. She further emphasized, “Their commitment demonstrates that training and empowering youth are essential for fostering peace.”
The youth-led projects tackled critical issues like the presence of firearms in schools, the importance of preserving collective memory in communities affected by armed violence, prevention of gender-based violence and the development of communication tools for journalists to accurately portray the realities that victims of armed violence face. For example, Irving Juárez from Mexico is currently working with children, parents and teachers to set up educational and recreational activities that foster peaceful and healthier relationships in their communities. He is collaborating with government and civil society stakeholders to make this happen. Karla Reyes from Peru has teamed up with the Villa el Salvador Municipality to organize training workshops on preventing armed violence against women. She also created a community called “Peace Messengers” to continue these efforts. Additionally, she organized a Peace Festival where the Villa el Salvador Municipality community painted a mural together, showcasing their commitment to peace and violence prevention. Through workshops in schools, art festivals for peace, specialized manuals, videos, documentaries and various other initiatives, the participants sparked change and inspired their peers. Many of the activities have already been successfully implemented, while others are in progress.
To learn more about the GenerAccion Paz programme and the participants’ projects, visit GenerAccion Paz.
“GenerAccion Paz” programme is aligned with the General Assembly resolutions on Youth, Peace and Disarmament, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is funded by the UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation.
On 26 March 2025, representatives from ten Caribbean States participated in the regional webinar ‘Synergizing Data Collection Efforts: Navigating UNLIREC’s Guidance Document’, hosted by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).
The Guidance Document is designed to reduce duplication of efforts and improve the efficiency of data collection and reporting. It identifies synergies between the reporting mechanisms of existing international and regional firearms instruments and the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap´s Monitoring and Evaluation framework.
The webinar featured presentations by UNLIREC on the content and practical application of the document. It also included interactive segments where participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share their experiences, and exchanged insights with other States.
A total of 27 participants attended the webinar, including 18 women, representing the following ten States: The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The webinar and the Guidance Document support the implementation of Goal 1 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, in particular supporting States to comply with their reporting obligations, as well as Sustainable Development Goal 16, “Peace, justice, and strong institutions.” It forms part of UNLIREC´s efforts to disseminate the findings of the Guidance Document, which was researched and drafted with the financial support of the German Federal Freing Office.
Lima, Peru. From 3 to 5 December 2024, ten young leaders from across Latin America will gather in Lima, Peru, to reaffirm their commitment to building a region free of armed violence. This visit is part of the programme GenerAcción Paz, an initiative by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Peru. The programme aims to empower youth in the prevention of armed violence and the promotion of peace.
Building Peace Through Youth
The three-day meeting will include interactive workshops and innovative presentations in Pecha Kucha formats during a Festival of Projects, where participants will showcase their initiatives to representatives from the United Nations, embassy officials, and national stakeholders, including civil society leaders. These initiatives, developed by the young leaders together with UNLIREC and the UNDP Peru Accelerator Lab, address key challenges such as armed violence and the importance of fostering a culture of peace within their communities.
The programme will also feature the CineForo: Leading for Peace and Security in Latin America, which will be a highlight of the gathering and will take place on Tuesday, December 3, at the Lugar de la Memoria, la Tolerancia y la Inclusión Social (LUM). During the CineForo, the documentary “When the Waters Are Joined” (Cuando las aguas se juntan) will be screened. This impactful film highlights the fundamental role of Colombian women in peacebuilding after the armed conflict. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with speakers such as Arianna Pedraza, a Colombian participant in GenerAcción Paz; Mercedes Allerbon, UNLIREC project advisor; and Diego Villarán, founder of the Alto Perú Project.
As part of the programme, the young leaders will also visit the Lima District Villa El Salvador, which is recognized as a Messenger City of Peace for its outstanding history of promoting peace and citizen security. During this visit, participants will engage in a dialogue with community leaders and local authorities to learn about violence prevention initiatives implemented in this iconic Peruvian community.
“We are excited to welcome these young leaders to Lima,” said Katja Boettcher, Political Affairs Officer at UNLIREC and coordinator of the GenerAcción Paz programme. “This program represents a unique opportunity for young people to become agents of change, implementing projects to prevent armed violence and promote peace in their communities. These seeds of peace will blossom across Latin America.”
Youth as Agents of Change
Since their selection in June 2024, the ten young leaders from nine different countries have embarked on a learning journey aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions. This programme not only provides participants with knowledge on disarmament and arms control but also equips them with practical tools to develop and implement initiatives that bring positive change to their communities.
Event Details: CineForo
Date: Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Lugar de la Memoria, la Tolerancia y la Inclusión Social (LUM), Bajada San Martín 151, Miraflores, Lima
From 18 to 22 November, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, carried out a series of Operational Forensic Ballistics activities to strengthen capacities to combat illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.
The activities held in Antigua and Barbuda included an assessment on the state of Forensic Ballistics capacity, an Executive Seminar for Senior Officials from agencies that are institutional clients of forensic ballistics and a 3-day Operational Forensic Ballistics (OFB) Workshop for operational participants.
National Assessment and Capacity Building The national assessment carried out in cooperation with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) and Antigua and Barbuda Forensic Services (ABFS), examined the state of forensic ballistics resources in the country. Key areas of focus included adequate equipment, ballistic investigation protocols, evidence management, as well as the continuing professional development of laboratory and RPFAB personnel. Based on the findings, a 12 – 18-month capacity-building work plan will be developed to strengthen operational forensic ballistics capabilities for both RPFAB and ABFS personnel.
Executive Seminar to Raise Awareness among Institutional Representatives The Executive Seminar, held on 20 November, brought together high-level officials from various sectors. Participants included the Commissioner of Police, Chief of Defence, heads of investigative and crime scene units, prosecutors, custom officers, foreign service officers, permanent secretaries among others. The seminar focused on the strengths and shortcomings of forensic ballistics in building court cases and generating intelligence to identify sources and routes used for illicit arms trafficking. UNLIREC staff also provided a review of best practices in forensic ballistics analysis and investigative techniques.
Operational Forensic Ballistics Workshop From November 20 to 22 November a OFB Workshop was conducted for 19 officials including five women, from the RPFAB, ABFS, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Immigration Department and Customs and Excise Division. During the workshop participants discussed fundamentals of forensic ballistics investigations, standard operating procedures for forensic firearms facilities, and safety at scenes and withing a laboratory.
The Operational Forensic Ballistics capacity building efforts contributes to the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap which seeks to “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.”
UNLIREC is one of three Regional Centre’s of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs and seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States.
This activity was made possible with funding from the Government of Canada and contributes to the implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
On 15 November, UNLIREC delivered the first session of its regional webinar series on Forensic Firearms Investigations: Emerging Challenges. This initiative, funded by the Government of the United States, seeks to equip Caribbean States with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify and confront evolving firearms-related threats.
The first webinar, Ghost Guns: Self-Fabricated Firearms & Privately Manufactured Firearms, brought together over 90 participants from across the Caribbean, including senior law enforcement officials, criminal investigators, ballistics experts, legal personnel, policy officers, and other State representatives.
The webinar provided a deep dive into the history and evolution of privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns due to their untraceable nature. Such firearms are manufactured outside traditional commercial processes and built-in accountability mechanisms such as marking, often using 3D printers or assembly kits. These weapons are untraceable due to their lack of serial numbers, making them a challenge for law enforcement. They are increasingly appearing in crime scenes worldwide, including in the Caribbean, complicating efforts to trace their origin or link them to criminal networks.
The webinar also provided critical insights into crime scene management and investigative strategies specific to ghost guns. Different techniques were discussed for identifying and collecting evidence related to self-fabricated firearms, as well as the legal hurdles that arise when prosecuting crimes involving these weapons.
UNLIREC’s webinar series is part of a broader effort to enhance the forensic and investigative capacities across the Caribbean. Firearms trafficking and gun violence remain significant challenges in the region, exacerbated by the emergence of ghost guns and other innovative technologies, but States remain committed to countering these challenges as part of a common initiative, the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. Through these webinars, UNLIREC aims to support the implementation of these efforts.
October 2024. In an effort to strengthen forensic ballistics capabilities across the Caribbean, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) undertook two webinars aimed at bolstering firearms examination and forensic ballistics competencies among police officers and forensic experts from Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The two webinars form part of the twelve month “Operational Forensic Ballistics” capacity building programme for both States and took place in October. A total of 12 participants, including police officers, forensic scientist, military personnel and firearms experts, took part in both sessions. The webinars and the wider Operational Forensics Ballistics assistance programme are funded by the Government of Canada.
The first webinar focused on Introduction to Firearms Examination, providing participants with a foundational understanding of ballistics, safety procedures at crime scenes and laboratories and the principles of forensic ballistics investigations among other topics. The second webinar introduced participants to Comparison Microscopy, which is vital for firearms and ammunition examination, comparison, and establishing (or disproving) connections between firearms, ammunition and crime scenes.
The overall objective of the webinar series was to enhance the knowledge and skills of personnel involved in forensic firearms investigations. To this end, the webinars aimed to familiarise participants with the various methods used in forensic ballistics, firearm examinations; reinforce the importance of safety protocols in forensic investigations; and introduce forensic ballistic identification techniques, especially through the use of comparison microscopy.
The programme will continue in the coming months, with further training, equipment provision, and operational support. This initiative is part of UNLIREC’s technical assistance to Caribbean States, aimed at strengthening the expertise of firearms examiners.
The training aligns with the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, particularly Goal 3: Bolstering law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms trafficking. It also supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Target 16.4 on reducing illicit arms flows.
UNLIREC remains committed to providing Caribbean States with the tools and expertise needed to combat firearms-related crime and enhance public safety.
