Sep 9, 2020 | Uncategorized
From 9 – 10 September 2020, UNLIREC carried out an Operational Forensic Ballistics Focal Point Meeting within the framework of its “Preventing and Solving Gun Crimes through Forensic Ballistics” project. Since 2015, UNLIREC has been providing technical assistance in forensic ballistics to various CARICOM Member States in an effort to ultimately combat illicit firearms trafficking and gun crimes.
This 2-day meeting allowed States to provide feedback on the assistance received from UNLIREC during the 2015-2020 period and highlighted ongoing challenges and areas requiring future intervention and assistance. UNLIREC was also able to follow up with States on recommendations provided during previous interinstitutional roundtables and facilitated discussions on regional and national coordination mechanisms for information sharing and ballistic intelligence.
Participants highlighted the continuous need for firearm examiner training and human resource capacity building, as well as technological advances in ballistics and new and emerging threats in the field of forensic firearm examination. A total of 15 State representatives attended along with representatives from CARICOM IMPACS. This Operational Forensic Ballistics technical assistance package is supported by the Government of the United States of America.
Sep 7, 2020 | Uncategorized
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in coordination with the Office for Women of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina, conducted its Specialized Course on Firearms Investigations from a Gender Perspective (FIGP) from 18-31 August 2020.
More than fifty officials from different positions and functions of the Judiciary in twenty provinces of Argentina, the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the Nation were trained, including prosecutors, judges, ministers of provincial courts and authorities of specialised bodies on gender-based violence against women. It is important to note that forensic experts and specialised police personnel from the areas of criminal investigation and ballistics also participated, providing an inter-institutional approach.
The course took place virtually and was divided into six interactive meetings, in which participants were able to share their experiences and converse with UNLIREC instructors. The course addressed aspects (theoretical and technical) of criminal investigations and the way in which gender perspective – as a method of analysis – contributes to formulating conclusions free of stereotypes, based on objective scientific or technical studies are grounded in appropriate theory. Case studies highlighted the absence of a gender perspective in firearms investigations and the violation of rights this implies for victims and their families.
During the training, emphasis was placed on the use of firearms to commit different types of violence against women, that is, not only when they are used as homicide weapons, but also as instruments to threaten, intimidate and coerce. The training highlighted the importance of appropriately handling the crime scene and firearms and ammunition as physical evidence in the gendered investigation of crimes against women. Throughout the course, good practices were shared and participants were urged to strengthen coordination and cooperation between all actors involved in the different stages of the judicial investigation, with the aim of optimising their individual and collective efforts to tackle firearms-related crimes. This requires special attention to cases of gender-based violence, thus contributing to reductions in impunity levels and to strengthen the capacities of institutions in the justice and security sectors.
Finally, there was a practical group exercise via a newly-developed on-line platform, whereby participants had to apply the content observed in the classes: preservation of the crime scene, search and prioritisation of evidence supported by the gender perspective for the formulation of the preliminary hypothesis of events.
To conclude the course, the Vice President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, Dr Elena Highton de Nolasco, the authority in charge of the Office of Domestic Violence and the Office for Women, sent a message of gratitude to UNLIREC for organising the course and called for “the disarmament of violence” and ongoing training in this area to advance in the protection of women’s rights.
This activity forms part of UNLIREC’s ‘Women, Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-proliferation Programme’, supported by the Government of Canada and the European Union.
Sep 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
From 24-28 August 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Colombia, carried out its first virtual edition of Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components (ISAAPC) Course in the region. Due to the COVID pandemic, the Centre restructured and adapted its training to a virtual format to facilitate continued training. As part of this process, the course content was updated and different interactive resources were included to facilitate the understanding and interaction through UNLIREC’s new e-learning platform.
The aim of this five-day course is to support Latin American and Caribbean States efforts to mitigate and prevent the diversion and illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition, parts, components and explosive through postal shipments, parcels and baggage by providing specialized x-ray identification training.
The course is aimed at X-ray screening operators and support personnel with responsibilities in control and inspection at points of entry, exit and transit as well as other security check points. Thirty-eight (38) screening operators and officials from the Directorate of Customs and Excise of Colombia attended the course.
Through a theoretical and practical methodology, participants received specialized training on technical specifications of small arms, their parts, components, ammunition and explosives as well as on elements related to the interpretation of X-ray images that may suggest the presence of a threat. In addition, participants had access to a training platform developed by the Center for Adaptive Security Research and Applications (CASRA), which contains a repository of images developed by UNLIREC.
This ISAAPC Course has contributed to improving detection capacities and interdiction practices in support of the prevention and combat of illicit trafficking of small arms, ammunition, parts and components in the region. Participants expressed great interest in this training, which strengthens their capacities to efficiently identify firearms and ammunition, but mainly parts and components of firearms (such as rifles), which in recent years are being sent illegally via air cargo and postal shipments.
This training course forms part of the “Combatting Illicit Firearms and Ammunition trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean” project and its implementation is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Germany.
Aug 25, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 20-21 August 2020, with the financial support of the Government of Germany, UNLIREC carried out an online seminar to highlight the relevance of ammunition control measures for national security and to present internationally recognized technical guidelines that could strengthen Chilean efforts against illicit trafficking and misuse of ammunition for small arms and light weapons.
Over 100 officials from national institutions with responsibility for implementation of ammunition control participated in the seminar, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Interior, Carabineros, Investigation Police, Ministry of Defense, National Army, Gendarmerie, Customs, National Intelligence Agency, Naval Police and Civil Aviation.
Given the impact of the proliferation and diversion of ammunition on armed violence and illicit trafficking in the region, UNLIREC sensitized stakeholders to the fact that ammunition control measures are addressed in a limited way in comparison with small arms and light weapons.
The seminar focused on key concepts, commitments and recommendations contained in international instruments and technical guidelines regarding ammunition control, including, physical security and stockpile management, as well as marking, tracing, demilitarization and destruction, among others.
Panellists from the Investigative Police and the Chilean Army delivered presentations on the national regulations in force and practical measures that Chile implements regarding stockpile management and demilitarization, as well as ammunition destruction.
For more information on UNLIREC, visit www.unlirec.org. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at cowl@unlirec.org.
Aug 14, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 5-6 August 2020, UNLIREC held an online seminar for Colombian Authorities to highlight the importance of ammunition control measures for national security and present technical guidelines that could strengthen national efforts to combat illicit trafficking and misuse of ammunition for conventional weapons.
Over 50 participants from national institutions such as the Colombian Military Industry (INDUMIL), the Directorate of Customs and Excise, Forensic and Criminal Intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police , and the National Prosecutor’s Office were engaged in discussions with UNLIREC on fundamental concepts and practices contained in international technical guidelines regarding ammunition control measures, including physical security and stockpile management, as well as marking, tracing, and destruction.
The seminar promoted dialogue among relevant agencies on the importance of implementing effective ammunition control measures to reduce the risk of illegal proliferation and diversion. The Centre sensitized participants to the contrast in the application of control measures in small arms and light weapons versus ammunition; the latter being addressed in a limited way. The urgency to address this was highlighted, given its impact on armed violence and illicit trafficking in the region.
During the sessions, participants emphasised the need to strengthen national legislation regarding ammunition control and the importance of incorporating the technical guidelines to support their efforts in ammunition control.
The Seminar was organized with the financial support of the Government of Germany.
For more information on UNLIREC, visit www.unlirec.org. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at cowl@unlirec.org.
Aug 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 7 July 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out its first regional webinar on how small arms control can help to prevent violence against women in the time of COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UNLIREC launched the webinar by explaining the context of the impact of small arms on violence against women (VAW), with particular emphasis on the negative impact that COVID-19 confinement measures are having on dramatic increases in domestic violence. Two expert panelists also presented the national perspectives of Argentina (academy) and Mexico (National Institute for Women) regarding VAW in the context of COVID-19 and the connections to firearms, as well as existing public policies to address the problem.
The webinar concluded with an overall description of the findings and recommendations found in a UNLIREC-led research initiative. The research identified national small arms control measures adopted in the Latin American and Caribbean region during the COVID-19 pandemic that could have an impact on the prevention and eradication of VAW. In other words, on the one hand, how to include arms control in strategies to prevent, address and eradicate VAW, and, on the other hand, how to incorporate a gender perspective into firearms control and regulations measures.
220 people from 23 different countries registered for the webinar, including representatives from different public sectors (foreign affairs, defence, security, education, women’s organizations), as well as academic organizations, from civil society in the Latin American and Caribbean region, and from UN agencies.
Participants highlighted the importance of participating in such regional meetings to address the link between firearms control and VAW . In that regard, it is important to note that the activity was part of the gender and arms control programme (funded by Canada, the European Union and Sweden) and that – due to the wide interest generated thanks to this webinar – UNLIREC will continue to carry out similar webinars at the national level.
