Mar 12, 2018 | Uncategorized
From 12-16 March, 2018, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) held two training workshops on “International Standards for the Management of Arms and Ammunition Warehouses of Private Security Companies” in Guadalajara for representatives of private security companies in Mexico. These two-day technical workshops were attended by operational staff of security companies active in various states throughout the country.
In order to mitigate the risk of arms diversion, training was centred on physical security measures for the weapons storage facilities of security companies. It is well known that a major source of criminal possession of weapons is the theft and loss of arms and ammunition from both State-owned and private arms depots. These risks can be significantly reduced through the implementation of internationally-recognized standards and good practices. Therefore, a key component of effective arms control and armed violence prevention is the training of those in charge of stockpile management within their respective companies.
The UNLIREC Public Security Programme team led the workshop, focusing on, inter alia, firearms and ammunition classification, effective stockpile management, risk assessment, security plans and incident notification.
This workshop forms part of the recently launched UNLIREC project entitled Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector, funded by the Governments of Mexico and the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main objectives of this project, developed in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), is the promotion of internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives to strengthen good governance and arms control in the private security sector.
By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC contributes to the enhancement of public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information on UNLIREC, please visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Mar 9, 2018 | Uncategorized
On 9 March 2018, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean presented the Dominican Republic their National Focus List for effective implementation of UNSCR 1540. The event was organized by UNLIREC with the generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
The National Focus List is intended as a subset to a comprehensive Control List, providing the front line trade control officials with an operative, easy-access tool for enhanced control over strategic trade. The List was developed in close cooperation with national authorities of the Dominican Republic and with the generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
The National Focus List is a closed list of dual-use items that may be of weapons of mass destruction proliferation concern. The List is based on an analysis of the Dominican trade patterns, volumes, and values over the years 2012-2016. As such, the document is a tailor-made Resolution 1540 implementation tool specifically designed to reflect the unique national context of the Dominican Republic. The purpose of the Focus List is to facilitate the practical implementation of the national control list in order to regulate the trade of goods and technology considered to be of international proliferation concern.
The National Focus List derives from UNLIREC´s previous work on developing regional Control and Focus Lists for the Caribbean. UNLIREC has developed a step-by-step methodology piloted in Dominican Republic at the national level, which can be independently implemented by other countries in the region in developing their national focus lists.
Mar 7, 2018 | Uncategorized
The Regional Seminar on Enhancing Strategic Trade and Border Controls in Latin America and the Caribbean was held from 7 to 8 March 2018 in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. The event was organized by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean with the generous financial support from the Government of Canada.
Representatives from 22 countries gathered together to deliberate ways of ensuring effective implementation of the Resolution 1540 in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. The wealth of participants from States, international and regional organizations, as well as from civil society organizations created an environment for fruitful dialogue between different stakeholders.
The sessions in the Seminar were structured around the different Resolution 1540 implementation support tools and assistance available in the region. Furthermore, the Seminar served as a platform to launch UNLIREC´s new Licensing Guide. The Guide provides States with easy-to-read, structured guidance on how to implement a national licensing framework that regulates the flow of goods and technologies that may be of proliferation concern.
The Seminar concluded with an interactive Open Space session, in which the States were invited to share and discuss their needs and priorities for the next steps in the implementation of the Resolution 1540. The discussion paved the way for enhanced regional cooperation, as a number of challenges and best practices were shared between different States in the region. This Seminar is the final activity within UNLIREC´s assistance package for UNSCR 1540 implementation, which has been implemented during the last two years, thank to the support from the Government of Canada.
Feb 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
On 28 February 2018, UNLIREC representatives returned to Georgetown, Guyana accompanied by a UNSCR 1540 Expert from New York to assist national authorities in the finalisation of Guyana’s National Action Plan (NAP).
The NAP workshop was co-hosted with Guyana’s Ministry of Public Security as part of UNLIREC’s Programme for Strengthening the Capacities of States in Latin America and the Caribbean to Implement UNSCR 1540 (2004). Participating agencies included the Ministries of Public Security; Public Health; Agriculture; Guyana Revenue Authority (Customs); Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force.
The event complemented previous efforts made during the initial NAP workshop held in October 2017 in Georgetown and the result was a significantly more elaborated version of the document with input from a broad range of national authorities, including initiatives to combat proliferation financing as put forward by Guyana’s Ministry of Finance.
Feb 27, 2018 | Uncategorized
From 27 February to 2 March, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), conducted activities in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at strengthening criminal investigations by national authorities and improve forensic ballistic capacity. Activities included UNLIREC’s inter-institutional Firearms and Ammunition Evidence Management Course (EMC) from 27 February – 1 March, followed by a National Executive Meeting (NEM) at the Ministry of National Security on February 2.
Harmonized efforts are fundamental in developing a sound national strategy to investigate and prosecute firearms-related cases and illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition. Consequently, UNLIREC convened this initiative to strengthen coordination among security sector officials, share knowledge on key aspects of the chain of custody process, provide practical training on best practices to process a scene under investigation, and increase the knowledge base of the relevant legal framework.
The EMC training was led by international subject matter experts and contained modules on ‘Firearms and Ammunition Identification’, ‘Legal Considerations in Criminal Investigations’, ‘Evidence Management at the Crime Scene’, ‘Evidence Examination and Analysis in the Laboratory’, ‘Intelligence and Investigation Tools’, as well as field exercises. Participants also benefitted from presentations by the Senior State Counsel, Director of Public Prosecutions, on the national legislative context to prosecute firearms-related offenses and by INTERPOL on addressing firearms trafficking, firearms tracing, and investigative tools available.
The Police Commissioner, Provost of the Police Academy, Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy, attended the launch of the EMC at the Police Academy in Port of Spain. 35 justice and law enforcement participants, including firearms examiners, forensic laboratory personnel, crime scene investigators, intelligence police officers, police prosecutors and public prosecutors were trained during the course. Training on best practices for collecting, packaging, and transferring firearms and ammunition found at a scene under investigation increases the capacity of security sector officials to manage potential evidence in a way that is deemed admissible in a court of law, and ultimately allows for a reduction in impunity in firearms-related cases.
The Executive Meeting with senior leadership of the Ministry of National Security discussed the recommendations made in UNLIREC’s 2015 National Assessment of Trinidad and Tobago’s forensic ballistics capabilities. The meeting also reviewed the recommendations that have been implemented as well as areas for future assistance.
Both the EMC and NEM are part of UNLIREC’s Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package, which is made possible thanks to the support of the governments of Canada, Germany, and 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 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Feb 26, 2018 | Uncategorized
UNLIREC representatives travelled to Paramaribo, Suriname to co-host a National Action Plan (NAP) finalisation workshop alongside Suriname’s Ministry of Defence. The workshop also devoted a number of afternoon sessions to select themes that corresponded with UNSCR 1540 implementation topics such as the creation of an inter-institutional mechanism, role and function of a national authority and the development of national control lists.
The workshop provided a forum for select group of representatives from national authorities including the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Attorney-Generals and Police and Trade. The workshop was also attended by a UNSCR 1540 Expert who was able to provide valuable insights that contributed to the enhanced development of Suriname’s NAP.
UNLIREC’s technical assistance was provided to Suriname as part of UNLIREC’s Programme for Strengthening the Capacities of States in Latin America and the Caribbean to Implement UNSCR 1540 (2004).
