Jan 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
On 1 December 2016, UNLIREC presented the findings of its study entitled “Less Lethal Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean – Challenges and Opportunities” at the UN Common House in Lima, Peru, to a diverse crowd of governmental agencies, the diplomatic corps, private security companies, civil society, academia, and officials from the Peruvian National Police.
The study analyzes the approaches to less lethal weapons in the region and their role in maintaining public security. It also identifies the main actors, risks, challenges and good practices, as well as the possibility of States to incorporate less lethal weapons into the equipment of security forces and regulate their use by citizens and security companies, all the while respecting international standards of human rights and the use of force. The objective of the research is to contribute to the debate on the legality, feasibility and impact of using these type of weapons.
Less-lethal weapons are devices designed to generate a specific effect that will temporarily neutralize or incapacitate the recipient of the impact without causing death. These types of weapons are used in numerous countries in Latin America and the Caribbean by actors with an institutional mandate to maintain and monitor public order.
The study arises in the context of the institutional mandate of UNLIREC, which links disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control measures with other frameworks to promote peace and security, such as Objective 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 16 urges States to promote peaceful and inclusive societies and to facilitate access to justice, as well as create effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. While Objective 16.4, in particular, calls on States to reduce all types of violence, related death rates, and illicit arms and financial flows.
The event concluded with a dynamic debate on the different aspects to consider when improving regulation and training on less lethal weapons. In particular, the need to incorporate the control and regulation of these type of weapons within the national legal framework, identify which entities should authorize the use of these devices, and determine in which situations these weapons can and should be used.
The development of this study has been possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. Through its assistance, UNLIREC supports the Latin American and Caribbean States in the implementation of the United Nations Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN PoA 2001).
Jan 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
A simulation exercise on maritime security was carried out by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from 1 to 2 December in Santo Domingo. The main objective was to support the country in the effective implementation of maritime security measures through active debate and to demonstrate the need for cooperation between government departments and agencies.
A number of scenarios related to maritime security and issues relating to maritime law enforcement were presented. They addressed issues such as: threats to cruise ships; border security aspects affecting ports, airports and land border crossings; possible incidents involving weapons of mass destruction; maritime safety inspections and handling of illicit drug shipments, as well as illicit trafficking in firearms.
The exercise was organized within the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), which is within the mandate of UNLIREC and within the scope of IMO maritime security measures. The resolution addresses the threat of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, including illicit trafficking, among non-state actors, as well as their means of delivery and related materials.
This activity was made possible thanks to the contribution of the USA. and is preceded by a series of similar events held in other countries in the region led by UNLIREC and IMO, such as Grenada (2014), Trinidad and Tobago and Belize (2015) and Jamaica (June 2016).
Jan 11, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 1-3 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 competency testing exercise with the Belize National Forensic Science Service. These exercises form part of the third round of implementation under the framework of the 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 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, four forensic analysts from the National Forensic Science Service 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 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
A table-top exercise on maritime security has been held in Kingston, Jamaica (30 June-1 July), organized by IMO in collaboration with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC). The exercise was aimed at stimulating discussions and demonstrating the need for cooperation amongst government departments and agencies using a range of evolving scenarios related to maritime security and maritime law enforcement issues. Scenarios covered included threats to cruise ships, border security issues involving ports, airports and land border crossings, incidents potentially involving weapons of mass destruction, security-related health crisis, environmental threats such as oil spills, maritime safety inspections and dealing with illicit drugs’ consignments.
The event was organized to assist the Government of Jamaica in strengthening national implementation of aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) that fall within the mandate of UNLIREC and the scope of IMO maritime security measures, including those under the International Ship and Port Facilities Security (ISPS) Code and the SUA treaties covering the suppression of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation. Resolution 1540 (2004) addresses the threat of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, including illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, to non-State actors, their means of delivery and related materials.
The exercise follows a series of similar events in other countries in the Caribbean region, conducted by IMO and UNLIREC.
Jan 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues its progress in the implementation of its project entitled ‘Strengthening capacities for the effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector‘.
In collaboration with the national directorate for the control of security services, firearms, ammunition and explosives (SUCAMEC), UNLIREC has promoted protocols, procedures and good practices in small arms and ammunition management in the private security sector, in line with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). The implementation of these standards improves the efficiency of small arms and ammunition inventory management in these companies to prevent accidents and avoid their diversion to illicit markets and actors.
As part of this project, UNLIREC assessed levels of compliance of three Peruvian private security companies with ISACS and made a number of recommendations for areas of improvement, such as infrastructure, physical security and inventory management. UNLIREC and SUCAMEC also supported these private security companies in strengthen their small arms and ammunition inventory management by facilitating the secondary marking of their small arms with laser technology to affix unique markings including the importer, year of import and end user. This marking process helps Peru comply with international and regional agreements on secondary marking of imported small arms. In addition, these markings allow for lost or stolen firearms to be traced more expeditiously.
UNLIREC`s ‘Strengthening capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector’ project is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives, such as the ISACS and the ICoC.
By assisting Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Nov 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out a mission to El Salvador on 23-27 November 2015 with a view to advancing the coordination and implementation of activities that form part of the project entitled strengthening capacities for the effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector.
The main goal of the mission, carried out by UNLIREC, in conjunction with its partners in the Salvadoran government and the country’s private security sector, was to promote best practices in arms and ammunition management in private security companies based on the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS), in particular ISACS module 05.20 on stockpile management. The objective of this project is to prevent arms theft and the diversion of arms and ammunition from the private security sector into illegal channels.
Over the course of the week, UNLIREC experts analyzed the levels of ISACS compliance in five Salvadoran security companies and made recommendations for increasing those levels of compliance and improving security and management. Additionally, they met with arms manufacturers and arsenal managers from private security companies to follow up on the training they received in the UNLIREC stockpile management course imparted in July 2015.
Upon completion of the mission, all interested parties agreed upon the 2016 roadmap and the inclusion of secondary markings to arms belonging to security companies with the use of laser technology. This type of secondary marking helps to improve stockpile management and comply with international agreements on combating illicit small arms trafficking. The technical guidelines for the markings are based on various international instruments and on ISACS module 05.30 on marking and registry management.
The project entitled ‘strengthening capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector’, which is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany, is implemented in association with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally-accepted standards, good practices, and initiatives, such as the ISACS and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC).
By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
