Nov 14, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 14-18 November, 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 the Dominican Republic and Guyana. These 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 also support the internal identification of existing gaps in skills, knowledge and procedures within firearms units in each State and may also be used as an internal assessment tool for the forensic science institutes and laboratories of the region.
Six members of the Scientific Police, the Ballistic and Biometric Lab of the National Firearms System, and the National Institute of Forensic Sciences in the Dominican Republic participated in this internal four-day assessment. At the same time, UNLIREC carried out the same exercise with the Guyana Police Crime Laboratory with four firearm examiners. These exercises form part of a third round of implementation under the framework of UNLIREC’s Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package, 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.
Nov 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 11 to 14 of April, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana carried out a series of hands-on forensic ballistics training exercises in Georgetown. These exercises represent the second round of assistance held 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.
The training exercises enabled 8 officers from the Guyana Police Force Crime laboratory to gain in-depth knowledge on specific UNLIREC Standard Operating Procedures, such as forensic examination of firearms and small arms ammunition, validation of scientific methods, range of fire determination (shot pattern) and health and safety during forensic processes. The activities also included a series of practical exercises including the examination and subsequent identification of firearms and their parts and components using best practice pro formas as well as exercises on validation and calibration protocols. Participants were also exposed to a real case scenario and taught to calculate the range of fire. The exercises provided participants with the opportunity to exchange best practices, discuss challenges faced in the field as well as practice new methods and technology in order to build more substantial cases and solid evidence.
For the third round of project assistance to the Government of Guyana, UNLIREC will be promoting the implementation of a series of collaborative exercises derived from forensic ballistic SOPs as a tool for determining staff competencies in key functional areas.
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.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Nov 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) has expanded its technical assistance to the Peruvian provinces of Chiclayo and Arequipa through its “Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector” project, which was launched in Peru in June 2015. Through this project, UNLIREC supports the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC) as the government body that controls and supervises private security, as well as the companies that provide services in this sector.
The activities that have been carried out through this project include training in small arms and ammunition inventory management for private security companies, technical assessments of private security companies aimed at providing technical recommendations on stockpile management and physical security measures, and secondary marking of firearms with laser technology. The project`s activities to date have focused on the city of Lima.
In order to ensure that this project has a decentralized impact in the country, UNLIREC expanded its technical assistance to the cities of Chiclayo and Arequipa. Consequently, during the week of 11 April 2016, UNLIREC`s technical team assessed the level of compliance of four private security companies in these two cities with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the United Nations International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). These voluntary assessments include technical recommendations in order to strengthen the level of compliance with the standards, to improve the security and the small arms and ammunition inventory management of these companies. Achieving high levels of compliance with these international standards helps prevent theft and diversion of firearms and ammunition belonging to the private security sector to illegal actors.
This project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) and United Nations small arms and ammunition control standards.
Through its assistance, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States strengthen public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Oct 24, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 26-28 October, 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, carried out a forensic ballistics competency testing exercises for police firearms examiners in Basseterre. This internal testing tool is used to determine staff competencies in key functional areas.
This tool was developed based on UNLIREC’s ballistics-specific standard operating procedures, including issues integral to the day to day work undertaken by firearms examiners, such examination of small arms ammunition, examination of firearms and their components and trigger pull determination. In the medium- and long-term, this internal testing tool will systematize the continual upgrading of “competencies”, allow for modifications in training and sustain an ever-more capable pool of Caribbean forensic ballistics experts.
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.
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.
Oct 24, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 24 to 28 October 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) visited Santiago, Chile to participate in the Training Course for Latin America and the Caribbean Points of Contact for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and its related resolutions. The training course was hosted by the Government of Chile in cooperation with the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts and supported by UNODA. The training course was made possible through funding from the UN Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities.
The training course aimed to provide national points of contact with an in-depth knowledge about the resolution’s obligations and its implementation challenges. In addition, it emphasized the importance of building strong networks and promoting cooperation and interaction between national points of contact. The course was conducted with presentations by members of the 1540 Committee Group of Experts and representatives of different International Organizations including OPWC, UNODC, WCO and OAS.
UNLIREC provided logistical support prior and during the training and used this opportunity to strengthen its relationship with key representatives. In addition, UNLIREC took the opportunity to present its assistance package to the region and the work it is carrying out with beneficiary States in the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).
National points of contact play an important role in the effective implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004). The training was an excellent opportunity to share national experiences and learn from the challenges each State faces. The training for resolution 1540 (2004) National Points of Contact from Latin America and the Caribbean Region aims to become an annual regional meeting to bolster the network.
Sep 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), launched its project aimed to strengthen capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition within the private security sector (PSS). The launch of this project took place on 21 of September in San Jose during an executive seminar on good practices and international standards in the PSS upon request from the government of Costa Rica. Several private security companies operating in Costa Rica, and representatives of national agencies, in charge of the control and regulation of this sector, participated in the event.
The PSS in Latin America has expanded and become more professional over the last years, providing services that include security and protection with small arms. The growth in this sector caused an increase in the legal demand of small arms and ammunition. The State institutions using arms, as well as the private security companies and their agents are vulnerable to considerable insecurity (robberies, attacks) and corruption (illegal sales and unlawful use of arms) that can cause diversion of arms into illegality, and their potential use in violent and criminal actions with serious impacts on citizen security.
The UNLIREC project, in collaboration with DCAF, helps to reduce these risks through the promotion of arms control measures between the national authorities responsible for the control and audit of the sector, and the private security companies. Likewise, the assistance provides support to the authorities in order to review and strengthen good governance in the sector by promoting regulatory initiatives. The technical assistance that UNLIREC and DCAF offer as part of this project,is based on international standards, good practices, and globally recognized initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers (ICoC), the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). With the launch of this project, the PSS of Costa Rica and the governmental authorities that regulate and supervise it, can benefit from a series of activities aimed at strengthening capacities throughout this sector through technical support.
This project is possible due to the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany. Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in strengthening public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
