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.
Aug 21, 2017 | Uncategorized
From 21 – 24 August, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), together with the government of the Dominican Republic, carried out three activities aimed at strengthening forensic ballistics capacities in the region.
From 21-22 August, UNLIREC carried out technical assessments of the ballistics laboratories at the National Forensic Science Institute (INACIF) in Santiago de los Caballeros and Santo Domingo, as well as the Scientific Police ballistics laboratory. The results of which were discussed during a national roundtable held on 24 August, with government stakeholders.
On 23 August, UNLIREC organized a regional meeting with representatives from Central America and the Dominican Republic to discuss opportunities for the sharing of information and ballistics evidence both within and among States. 21 officials from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras participated in this roundtable. The exchange of ballistics information and evidence increases the capacity of authorities to make connections between crimes and crime scenes, nationally, regionally and internationally, and ultimately allows for a reduction in impunity in firearms-related cases. Representatives also benefited from a visit to the Ballistics and Biometric Laboratory of the National Arms System (LABBS) to observe best practices and discuss firearms registries.
These initiatives are part of UNLIREC’s Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package, which is made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of State and the Government of Canada.
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.
Aug 6, 2017 | Uncategorized
As part of its contribution to the Joint United Nations Programme entitled “Strengthening Human Security and Community Resilience by Fostering Peaceful Coexistence in Peru”, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) conducted a seminar on public policies for the prevention and reduction of gun violence in Trujillo City on June 8, 2017.
The seminar took place on the occasion of the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, which took place from 5-12 June 2017 with the theme “The Road to Development and Peace Begins with Silencing the Guns”. With a view to creating visibility for this global campaign, UNLIREC provided a space for the various sectors of municipal and district governments, as well as community leaders and organisational networks within civil society to reflect on and discuss gun violence and its effects on society.
During the event, participants presented and discussed comprehensive measures and citizen security policies aimed at preventing and reducing gun violence as a shared responsibility between different sectors and stakeholders. The various institutions of the State with responsibilities in the matter made known their policies and axes of intervention, generating a broad debate on effective mechanisms to reduce gun violence from a comprehensive and multisectoral perspective.
Special attention was given to preventative measures aimed at young people, such as accessibility to public spaces for sport and recreational activities, as well as the concept of community policing as a means of reducing violence and crime in vulnerable areas.
UNLIREC is part of the UN Joint Programme on Human Security which works with public institutions and local authorities in Trujillo to reduce and prevent crime in general, gender violence and the involvement of adolescents in criminal activities.
Jul 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 24 July 2017, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) co-hosted a UNSCR 1540 National Roundtable Workshop with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda.
The event brought together representatives from a broad range of national authorities including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Legal Affairs; Trade and Commerce, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy; Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board; Analytical Services; Customs; and the Antigua and Barbuda Police and Defence Forces. Additionally, the workshop was attended by VERTIC, Stimson Centre and CARICOM’s 1540 Regional Implementation Coordinator.
The roundtable provided a forum for delivery of the findings and recommendations of UNLIREC’s National Legal Study of Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic legislative framework, as well as to introduce the national action plan concept within the Antiguan context. Dialogue exchanges were fruitful, lively and demonstrative of the strong commitment and will of the agencies and institutions around the table to continue strengthening measures and adopting effective mechanisms to combat WMD proliferation.
UNLIREC look forward to returning to St John’s in the near future to continue working with national authorities in the identification of national priorities associated with the implementation of UNSCR 1540. This collaborative event is financed in its entirety by the Government of Canada and forms part of a wider UNLIREC Programme aimed at supporting State implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004).
