Oct 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) is making progress in Guatemala with the implementation of activities for the project entitled Strengthening capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector. This assistance is provided jointly with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
During the week of 10-14 July 2017, UNLIREC carried out a series of activities to promote good governance in the private security sector. During an Executive Seminar for national authorities and private security entrepreneurs, good practices, standards and international regulations were presented which strengthen arms control and contribute to better regulation of the private security sector as well as to its professionalisation.
In order to educate security companies’ technical staff, UNLIREC provided a two-day technical workshop for employees in charge of overseeing and caring for arms warehouses. The participants of the workshop received training aimed at incorporating physical security procedures for arms and ammunition in warehouses in order to minimise the risks of them being diverted for illicit use. The content of the workshop is based on the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).
Additionally, UNLIREC carried out voluntary visits to several security companies to assess the level of compliance with the standards and made specific recommendations to adjust the management of the arms and ammunition warehouses and thereby improve their security and avoid diversion of arms to illegal markets. Finally, UNLIREC delivered devices commonly known as bullet-traps which allows for weapons security checks, thus avoiding the fatal consequences of involuntary firing.
This project is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. Through its assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports States in the improvement of public security and in the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trafficking of Small and light Arms in all its aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Sep 25, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 25 August, UNLIREC and the Government of Peru held a working meeting on the national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. This activity brought together 23 representatives from 12 state entities, including Ministries and other institutions, such as: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Health, Agriculture, Justice and Human Rights, Interior, Environment, Production, INDECI, among others.
The objective of the session was to present to the working table the main comments from UNLIREC’s legal team regarding the “Bill on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction”. The strengthening of the national regulatory framework in the field of non-proliferation of biological weapons was considered a priority by Peru in its Roadmap on the implementation of Resolution 1540. This activity is part of UNLIREC’s 1540 assistance package currently in execution thanks to the financial support from Canada.
As a result, the representatives from the different sectors began the debate on the basic issues to be considered in the preliminary analysis of the bill and its effective adaptation to the international obligations assumed by Peru in the field of non-proliferation of biological arms. In addition, basis were set for the next working meeting, the second in a series aimed at accompanying the Government of Peru in its national efforts to align and adapt the national legal framework with the mandates of the BWC and Resolution 1540.
Sep 21, 2017 | Uncategorized
In observance of the International Day of Peace and as part of the activities designed by the Joint United Nations Human Security Programme, young volunteers involved in the “Youth Volunteerism for Peacebuilding and Disarmament: Youth Measuring Community Security Through Participatory Indicators” project led various initiatives to promote peace and to raise awareness about disarmament in the “Youth for Peace” Festival. In 2001, the General Assembly declared the 21st September, the day for encouraging peacebuilding ideas among nations and peoples, as a day of non-violence and ceasefire.
This Festival, therefore, not only met the objective of empowering the more than 60 young volunteers involved in the project, but also represented a forum for interaction with the community, one in which the volunteers shared the knowledge acquired during their training. Activities were developed based on four central themes: the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, peace and disarmament.
In particular, interventions were held, such as the “Journey for Peace” photo exhibition, where there was a display of the activities that the Joint United Nations Human Security Programme has been developing in Trujillo since 2014. Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals were presented in an entertaining way, with members of the audience being rewarded for their involvement with tokens designed by the volunteers.
One of the most popular activities was the graphic reinterpretation of the winning entries of the “United Nations Posters for Peace” Competition where attendees were invited to draw their own version of peace and disarmament.
At the same time, there were artistic productions such as a skit, a dance performance and a participatory mural, where members of the public were invited to leave their mark as a sign of their commitment to the creation of a safe and peaceful community. Both the event and the Festival were brought to a close in grand style with a flashmob, also involving young people from the three target communes of the Joint Human Security Programme and the Cultural Association D1 with the piece “Stories of Fire,” which addresses the risks and consequences of illegal trafficking and armed violence.
Source: UNLIREC
Sep 18, 2017 | Uncategorized
UNLIREC and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in collaboration with the Government of Peru, organized a tabletop activity to improve maritime and port security. The event brought together 28 representatives of various state entities, who were presented with a series of real-life scenarios, including situations related to cyber security in the port area, aspects related to physical protection of ports, contexts of illicit trafficking of substances linked to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and illicit trafficking of firearms, health security crisis, maritime safety inspections and management of hazardous materials, among others.
The event, which took place on 18 and 19 September, has as its main objective to support the State in the implementation of the IMO’s maritime security measures, including those under the SOLAS Convention and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), as well as the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. During the exercises, participants had the opportunity to discuss regulatory frameworks, existing procedures, roles and responsibilities as well as the need for cross-sectoral cooperation in the aforementioned areas. As a result, participants developed a series of conclusions identifying opportunities for improvement.
This activity is the sixth opportunity in which UNLIREC works together with the IMO to offer this type of tabletop exercise and forms part of UNLIREC’s 1540 Assistance Package, currently being implemented thanks to the financial support of Canada.
Sep 11, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 9 November 2017, UNLIREC representatives travelled to Paramaribo, Suriname as part of UNLIREC’s UNSCR 1540 implementation programme to host a combined workshop focusing on the development of Suriname’s voluntary National Action Plan (NAP) and the creation of an inter-institutional mechanism.
The workshop was a follow-on event from the National Legal Study Roundtable held in April 2017 and it provided a forum for national authority representatives to come together, with UNLIREC’s assistance, to develop a draft NAP document that sets out Suriname’s plan for implementing resolution 1540.
Participating agencies included the Ministries of Defense; Foreign Affairs; Civil Aviation Safety Authority Suriname; National Assembly; Suriname Police Corps; Bureau of National Security; Central Bank of Suriname; National Assembly; and Customs. The event was ultimately very fruitful with a draft NAP produced before the conclusion of the day’s event.
Suriname, through its Ministry of Defense, has sustained strong efforts in relation to the resolution’s implementation throughout the year. UNLIREC welcomes the opportunity to provide Suriname with continued assistance both in the further elaboration of its draft NAP and more broadly, through UNLIREC’s other disarmament programmes.
Aug 29, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 29 August 2017, UNLIREC representatives teamed up with the Guyanese Ministry of Public Security returned to host a national roundtable event in Georgetown.
The purpose of the roundtable was to present Guyana with its UNSCR 1540 National Legal Study and highlight to national authorities its key findings and recommendations. The event was attended by participants representing a broad-range of government stakeholder organisations including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Agriculture; Finance; Guyana Revenue Authority; Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force.
The National Legal Study analysed Guyana’s existing legislative framework against the operative paragraphs of UNSCR 1540 and will be one of the key documents relied upon in assisting Guyana in identifying what needs, challenges and areas exist for strengthening the implementation of the resolution within the Guyanese context.
UNLIREC plans to return to Georgetown next month to provide support in Georgetown’s development of its 1540 National Action Plan.
