Oct 19, 2019 | Uncategorized
From 16-18 October 2019, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, led discussions on enhancing firearms-related investigations. This event forms part of the response to effectively addressing existing gaps in the overall management of the lifecycle of a firearm. This lifecycle ranges from the moment a firearm is confiscated or found at the crime scene to the moment it is presented in court as evidence and – ultimately – to its final destruction.
Caribbean States concur that other existing challenges exist throughout the region, such as inadequate communication between investigators and laboratory analysts; ballistic intelligence leads provided to investigative units that are not actioned; leads submitted many years after the original gun crime; and insufficient firearm examiners to analyse the firearms-related evidence. As such, the UNLIREC-led event was intended to enhance coordination, as well as to carry out deeper analysis among the key stakeholders to address any existing gaps and consequently reduce impunity in firearms-related cases.
15 participants – comprised of Crime Analysts, Executive Law Enforcement Officers, Armourers, Crime Scene Investigators, Intelligence Officers and a Customs Official – actively participated in the three-day roundtable. During the event, UNLIREC led discussions on reviewing current practices in St Kitts and Nevis regarding crime gun intelligence management, specifically ballistics intelligence, and presented ways in which ballistic intelligence can be more effectively utilized. The usefulness of ballistic intelligence for enhancing investigations and disrupting trafficking networks was also the focus of dialogue, as were process flows and data on the recovery, forensic processing, international tracing, investigation, and prosecution and trafficking of illicit firearms. The event concluded with the development of recommendations that can assist in combatting armed violence and firearms trafficking.
This Inter Institutional Roundtable in St Kitts and Nevis was made possible thanks to the support of the government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC, as the regional organ of the UN Office for Disarmament, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States in their implementation of international disarmament instruments, in particular, the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Oct 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
On 17 September, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, conducted a Seminar on Arms and Ammunition Import Control in San Salvador with particular focus on private entities (private security companies -PSCs and gun shops) as end-users. The Seminar boasted the participation of authorities and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and Public Security, National Civilian Police, Customs and Ministry of Defense as entities responsible for the authorization and control of arms transfers.
Throughout the seminar legal provisions found in international instruments and guidelines related to arms import control were addressed by emphasizing on those outlined in the national system of arms imports in El Salvador. Furthermore, UNLIREC presented its risk assessment methodology to assist States in evaluating arms and ammunition imports. Special focus was given to cases in which the private security sector is the arms importer and intended end-user. The seminar ended with two practical simulation exercises and small-group discussions, in which participants were encouraged to apply UNLIREC´s risk assessment methodology.
Participants stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between national entities with responsibilities in international transfers control to prevent straw purchases, diversion and illicit arms transfers.
Since 2015 UNLIREC has been implementing assistance projects in El Salvador on small arms and ammunition control in the private security sector. The implementation of this Project is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Oct 15, 2019 | Uncategorized
Within the German-funded project entitled ‘Combat of Illicit Arms and Ammunition Trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean’, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) in coordination with the Colombian National Taxes and Customs Administration (DIAN) carried out its eighth edition of Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components (ISAAP) Course in the region from 12 to 16 August in Bogotá.
The aim of this five-day course is to support Latin American States efforts to mitigate and prevent the diversion and illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition, parts and components 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-seven (37) screening operators and customs officials from different DIAN units such as the Postal Traffic Division, Cargo, Passenger Management, Imports, and the Special Administrative Unit attended the course. Also participating were officials from the Fiscal and Customs Police (POLFA).
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. The course also included a series of simulations of concealment methods and practical exercises aimed at boost operator’s capacities to identify and detect positive threats when performing their roles and duties.
Participants stressed the importance of having specialized and continuous training, as well as the added value of this course to improve their detection capacities and interdiction practices in support of the prevention and combat of illicit trafficking of small arms, ammunition, parts and components in the country.
The implementation of this course is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Sep 18, 2019 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) with the financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany and in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica, carried out the Caribbean Regional Outreach Seminar on Conventional Ammunition Management on 10-11 September 2019 in Kingston.
This regional seminar gathered CARICOM States to hold informal discussions on issues relevant to safe, secure and accountable management of conventional ammunition, as well as on regulatory and assistance needs. The outcomes of the discussions will feed into the identification of priorities by the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) tasked to discuss problems arising from the accumulation of conventional ammunition in surplus. The GGE is convened to meet in 2020 pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 72/55 (2017).
UNGA/res/72/55 emphasizes that “diversion from ammunition stockpiles has contributed to the intensity and duration of armed conflict and sustained armed violence around the world”. In the Caribbean, the constant supply, availability, and proliferation of ammunition to all potential actors of violence are a sine qua non to producing the highest armed violence records in the world.
Caribbean State delegations included both technical and policy experts in the field. During the seminar, discussions drew on technical inputs provided by UN specialized agencies, regional organizations and thematic experts. In particular, safety and security threats associated with conventional ammunition were identified, as well as lessons learned and best practices to prevent illicit trafficking and diversion of small arms ammunition. National and regional priorities within the international process on ammunition included ammunition auditing, marking and tracing, as well as strengthening of border controls and physical security and stockpile management. A call for sustained international assistance was made by Caribbean States to help build state capacity and reduce associated risks. The existing international guidelines and cooperation frameworks were also presented, most notably UN SaferGuard’s Programme and its International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
Aug 4, 2019 | Uncategorized
From 21 July – 3 August 2019, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of The Bahamas, continued its ongoing in-situ field training for firearm technicians by assessing the current practices vis-à-vis crime gun intelligence management or ‘ballistics’ intelligence in the country.
This initiative forms part of UNLIREC’s programme aimed at Combatting Illicit Firearms and Ammunition Trafficking in the Caribbean through Operational Forensic Ballistics and at providing States with more in-depth forensic ballistic training. In the case of the Bahamas, six firearms technicians from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Scientific Support Services y Firearms Section are participating in an 11-month intense training programme which, upon successful completion, would lead to them becoming firearm examiners/reporting officers within the framework of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
During this two-week field visit, written and practical assessments were administered, which sought to evaluate knowledge gained and to identify areas in which additional training is needed. Participants were assessed with respect to their ability to examine fired ammunition components, perform comparative analysis of selected bullets and cartridge cases, as well as to reliably make common and different source determinations.
UNLIREC also held fact-finding meetings with a cross section of RBPF personnel to identify and discuss existing gaps in the management of the lifecycle of an illicit firearm, from the moment it is confiscated or obtained at the crime scene to the moment it appears in court and is ultimately destroyed. Current practices in the Bahamas related to crime gun intelligence management, or ‘ballistics’ intelligence, were likewise discussed in preparation for a forthcoming Inter-Institutional roundtable on enhancing firearm-related investigations.
This current assistance is made possible thanks to the support of the Government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC, as the regional organ of the UN Office for Disarmament, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Jul 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues to assist States of the region with the objective of supporting their efforts to implement the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). UNLIREC, with the collaboration of the International Organizations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, held the seventh edition of its landmark Course on the Interdiction of Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components (ISAAP), which took place in Asunción, Paraguay from 22-26 July.
The objective of this course is to collaborate in strengthening the capacity of States in their efforts to prevent and combat illicit firearms trafficking through the specialized training of x-ray machine operators. These operators work in the areas of surveillance and inspection at points of entry, exit as well as land, air and sea border crossings. Through this assistance, States are better equipped to reduce the undesirable effects of firearms proliferation and armed violence currently affecting the region.
The course resulted in the training of 30 x-ray operators representing the Directorates of Civil Aviation, National Customs and War Material, trained using a theoretical and practical approach on fundamental aspects related to the interpretation of X-ray images, technical specifications of small arms, their parts, components, ammunition and explosives; while paying special attention to the different factors influencing their visualization through X-ray technology. This course included training sessions using an online platform developed by the Center for Adaptive Security Research and Applications (CASRA), as well as a series of practical exercises on concealment methods using real arms and ammunition.
The course constitutes the fourth and final activity undertaken under this year´s ATT-VTF project, however, conversations are being held with the Paraguayan government in order to continue exploring cooperation opportunities and thus continue to strengthen ATT implementation.
All project-related activities were funded by the ATT Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF), of which Paraguay is a beneficiary and in which UNLIREC, at the request of the Paraguayan authorities, is an implementing partner.
