Mar 15, 2017 | Uncategorized
From 15 – 17 March, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out a second round of forensic ballistics collaborative exercise in Jamaica.
Members of the Jamaica’s Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine participated in this 3-day capacity-building exercise. The collaborative exercises are a series of practical and paper-based assessments on the competencies of: forensic examination of small arms ammunition, forensic examination of firearms and their components and trigger pull and travel examination. The exercises – based on UNLIREC’s standard operating procedures – were developed as a preparatory step for a regional framework of competency testing. These exercises may also be used as an internal assessment tool for the forensic science institutes and laboratories of the region to gauge existing gaps in skills, knowledge and procedures within Firearms Units.
These exercises form part of the third round of implementation under the framework 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. Firearms forensic ballistic assistance is currently being implemented in Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
This event was preceded by a complementary mission to Jamaica by UNLIREC to officially handover a bulletrax system to the Institute for Forensic Sciences and Legal Medicine on 14 March. This IBIS Bullettrax-3D System – funded by the Government of Canada – aims to boost the island’s forensic and ballistics capabilities by making it easier for analysts to compare bullets in their efforts to help solve gun crimes.
At the handover ceremony, a UNLIREC representative highlighted to national authorities that “[…]the system is going to facilitate the lab technicians and firearm examiners to trace the ammunition back to guns used in the crime, so we’re basically hoping to combat and prevent gun violence and combat illicit trafficking through the use of the system.”
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.
Mar 7, 2017 | Uncategorized
From 26 June – 6 July, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), together with ARQUEBUS Solutions Ltd, delivered two double cast training courses in Barbados to thirteen participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Five participants, including four examiners and one IBIS technician, received training from 26-29 June, during UNLIREC´s national double cast training course for Barbados. Five police armourers, two police drug detectives and one forensic technologist from the Royal Police Forces of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the St Vincent Forensic Drug Laboratory, participated in the sub-regional training during the 3-6 July. The training provided was based on INTERPOL’s Double Casting methodology.
Double casting increases the ability of national authorities to make connections between crime and crime scenes, nationally, regionally and internationally. The training sought to build capacity in the region to create microscopic replicas of projectiles and cartridge cases that can be peer reviewed and uploaded to an Automated Ballistics Identification Network, stored in an Open Case File or shared across jurisdictions for comparison without disturbing the chain of custody of the original evidence.
Double Casting is a two step-process that requires a silicone mould to be made of a fired bullet or cartridge case; a resin cast is then made using the silicone mould created. Ballistic projectiles are mounted in a secured cup or mould box before pouring the silicone to make the mould. The moulds are then placed in a degassing chamber to remove air bubbles, taken out of the chamber, and cured for 15 hours. The cured mould is then removed from the cup or box and the specimen extracted. Next, the silicone mould is filled with casting resin, pressurized in a pressure pot, removed and the cured resin cast demoulded. The resin bullet and cartridge castings are then ready for ballistics imaging or microscope examination and comparison.
Equipment used in the training as well as consumables to conduct further double casting of cartridge cases or projectiles, were handed over to the Government of Barbados for continued ballistics support to the Eastern Caribbean States. Double casting equipment will also be donated to each of the four States that participated in the training, to allow them to build capacity and make replicas of bullets and cartridge cases that can be shared across jurisdictions.
Double Cast Training is 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 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Feb 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) facilitated a two-day training (23-24 February 2017) to representatives of private security companies in Guatemala through the Technical Workshop on International Standards for the Management of Arms and Ammunition Warehouses of Private Security Companies.
In order to minimize the risk of diversion to illegal channels, participants received training on physical security procedures in the weapons and ammunition storage facilities within the security companies. It is well known that stolen or lost weapons and ammunition from both state and private locations, represent a major source of crime-related weapons. These risks can be significantly reduced by implementing international standards and good practices that are recognized at the global level. Therefore, training those who are in charge of storing, controlling, transporting, and custody of firearms and ammunition, is a key step in arms control and armed violence prevention.
The UNLIREC-led workshop focused on topics, such as firearm and ammunition classification, safe storage and inventory management, risk assessment, safety plans, and incident reporting, among other topics.
This workshop forms part of the UNLIREC project entitled Strengthening Oversight and Building capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector, which is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main objectives of this project, implemented in partnership with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), is the promotion of standards, good practices and global recognition initiatives to strengthen good governance, and arms control in the private security sector.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening 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).
Jan 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
From 24 – 26 January, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out its pilot forensic ballistics collaborative exercise in Trinidad and Tobago.
Four members of the Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre (TTFSC) participated during the 3-day exercise. These exercises were the eighth and final piloting of Collaborative Exercises and are part of the third round of implementation under the framework of the UNLIREC’s Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package. The Assistance Package, which is made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of State and the Government of Canada, is being implemented in Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
The collaborative exercises are a series of practical and paper-based assessments on the competencies of: forensic examination of small arms ammunition, forensic examination of firearms and their components and trigger pull and travel examination. The exercises – based on UNLIREC’s standard operating procedures – were developed as a preparatory step for a regional framework of competency testing. These exercises may also be used as an internal assessment tool for the forensic science institutes and laboratories of the region.
During this process, all examiners were assessed. These assessments also support the internal identification of existing gaps in skills, knowledge and procedures within Firearms Units in each State.
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.
Jan 18, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 18-20 January 2017, a representative of UNLIREC travelled to the Surinamese capital, Paramaribo, to formally initiate engagement in relation to UNLIREC’s non-proliferation programme. The purpose of the programme is to provide legal and technical assistance to Latin American and Caribbean countries in the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) (UNSCR 1540).
During the visit, a national roundtable meeting was held involving participants from the ministries of Defense; Foreign Affairs; Trade and Industry; Justice and Police; Suriname Police Corps; Bureau of National Security; Central Bank of Suriname; National Assembly; and Customs. Topics addressed during the presentation included international proliferation, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), global security and counter-proliferation measures, UNSCR 1540 and its operative paragraphs, as well as the resolution’s implementation in a Surinamese context.
UNLIREC looks forward to returning to Suriname to present a National Legal Study and work alongside national authorities in the development of a National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1540.
Nov 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 21 to 24 November 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) advanced its project activities related to strengthening the oversight and building capacities for small arms Control and non-proliferation in the private security sector in Costa Rica.
The main objective of the mission was to improve the management of stockpiles of arms and ammunition for private security companies based on the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs). The implementation of these standards contributes to preventing weapons diversion.
During the mission, UNLIREC assessed the level of compliance of the ISACS and the IATGs in five Costa Rican security companies and made recommendations to adapt their stockpile management of arms and ammunition to comply with such standards.
Likewise, UNLIREC held meetings with government authorities to discuss the incorporation of the secondary marking of arms belonging to private security companies. Marking weapons is one of the most important measures in the arms control field, as it contributes to their traceability and record keeping. Upon request of the Government, UNLIREC will support the secondary marking process from a technical perspective within the current project framework.
This project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in collaboration with the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The goal of this project is to promote good governance within the private security sector and promote arms and ammunition control measures in line with international standards and good practices.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening 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).
