Sep 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
As part of its technical assistance package to strengthen the implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004), the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) partnered with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 9 and 10 December 2015 to conduct a risk management table top exercise in maritime security in collaboration with the Belize Police Department. Nearly 20 stakeholders from various agencies and institutions (including the national police, coast guard and port authority) engaged in active discussions around a series of potential threat scenarios and cases presented by the IMO experts. Participants addressed issues relating to inter-institutional coordination, adoption of preventive and reactive measures to certain threats, review of existing operating procedures, existing legal framework and mechanisms for establishing roles and responsibilities of relevant institutions.
This table top exercise, aimed specifically at addressing the obligations on adoption of border control measures contained in operative paragraph 3 of resolution 1540 (2004), complements UNLIREC’s work in Belize in other critical areas, such as modernization of legislation and export controls.
UNLIREC has reaffirmed its commitment to continued collaboration with the Government of Belize to further strengthen the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in the country. To this effect, it has continued to engage with the various stakeholders to prepare a voluntary national action plan for the implementation of the resolution. This document is now in its final stages, and senior officials at the Ministry of National Security have indicated interest in completing the draft and submitting it to the 1540 Committee through the appropriate channels in the coming weeks.
UNLIREC will maintain its partnership with the IMO to deliver similar risk management courses in other target states in the Caribbean.
This exercise forms part of UNLIREC’s 1540 Assistance Package for Caribbean States, with the financial support of the United States Department of State´s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at (cowl@unlirec.org).
Aug 31, 2015 | Uncategorized
From 31 August to 4 September 2015, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the government of The Bahamas, a three-day training course, a technical assessment of national capabilities and infrastructures, and a seminar for the institutional clients of firearms forensic ballistics in Nassau. These clients included heads of investigative and crime scene units, prosecutors, magistrates, among others.
A three-day training course on operational forensic ballistics enabled 19 participants, including firearms examiners, armourers and other specialized law enforcement personnel to increase their knowledge on topics such as firearms and ammunition identification and examination, comparison microscopy, range of fire determination. The course included a simulation of the presentation of expert testimony of forensic ballistic evidence in a court of law. This was the opportunity for participants to exchange best practices and challenges faced in the field.
The national assessment, carried out in cooperation with the Forensics Laboratory of the Royal Bahamian Police Force’s (RBPF), took into consideration the occupational health and safety of the firearms examiners (e.g. lead contamination), adequate protective equipment, firearms safety protocols, evidence management, as well as the continuing education plans for firearm and toolmark examiners and other laboratory personnel. The main recommendations of the assessment will be integrated in the two year capacity-building work plan for forensic ballistics.
The seminar raised the awareness of institutional clients of firearms forensic ballistics on the strengths and shortcomings of forensic ballistics in support of building court cases, as well as in generating intelligence to identify sources and routes used for illicit arms trafficking. In addition, UNLIREC staff provided a review of best practices in forensic ballistics analysis and investigative techniques.
This initiative is part of the UNLIREC Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package, which is made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of 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.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Aug 31, 2015 | Uncategorized
From 31 August to 4 September 2015, 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 three-day training course, a technical assessment of national capabilities and infrastructures, and a seminar for the institutional clients of firearms forensic ballistics in Basseterre. These clients included heads of investigative and crime scene units, prosecutors, magistrates, among others.
A three-day training course on operational forensic ballistics enabled 20 participants, including firearms examiners, armourers and other specialized law enforcement personnel to increase their knowledge on topics such as firearms and ammunition identification and examination, comparison microscopy, range of fire determination. The course included a simulation of the presentation of expert testimony of forensic ballistic evidence in a court of law. This allowed participants to exchange best practices and challenges faced in the field.
The national assessment, carried out in cooperation with the Forensics Services Unit of the Royal St Kitts and Nevis Police Force (RSKNPF), took into consideration the occupational health and safety of the firearms examiners (e.g. lead contamination), adequate protective equipment, firearms safety protocols, evidence management, as well as the continuing education plans for firearm and toolmark examiners and other laboratory personnel. The main recommendations of the assessment will be integrated in the two year capacity-building work plan for forensic ballistics.
The seminar raised the awareness of 25 institutional clients of firearms forensic ballistics on the strengths and shortcomings of forensic ballistics in support of building court cases, as well as in generating intelligence to identify sources and routes used for illicit arms trafficking. In addition, UNLIREC staff provided a review of best practices in forensic ballistics analysis and investigative techniques.
This initiative is part of the UNLIREC Caribbean Operational Forensic Ballistics Assistance Package, which is made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of 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.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Aug 12, 2015 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues assisting States in the region in the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). On 8 December, UNLIREC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador inaugurated the roundtable on the process towards creating a national control authority for ATT implementation.
This activity targeted 30 national authorities in charge of conventional arms transfer controls from six different institutions. This workshop, the first of its kind delivered by UNLIREC, also benefitted from the technical input of a member of Argentina’s Executive Secretary of the National Commission to Control Strategic Materials, Sensitive Exports, and War Materials (CONCESYMB, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Director of the National Firearms Register (RENAR, for its acronym in Spanish) also from Argentina.
The main purpose of the two-day roundtable was to provide States with guidelines on the creation of a national control authority responsible for arms transfers and other elements in compliance with the provisions found in the Arms Trade Treaty and provide examples of international standards and models from other States at both the regional and global levels. Moreover, the activity created a space for structured discussion on the essential aspects to be taken into consideration when creating the national authority. Aspects such as composition, functions, functionality and inter-institutional cooperation.
This roundtable and all instruction materials are available to ATT State Parties in Latin America and the Caribbean thanks to the financial support from the Federal Government of Germany. To date, 20 countries in this region have ratified the ATT, which came into force last 24 December 2014: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. It is expected that in the coming months other States in the region will join the group of ratifying States.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Jul 30, 2015 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) presented its new project Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Non-proliferation in the Private Security Sector on 28 July 2015 in San Salvador. This project was launched during a National Executive Seminar on UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Code of Conduct (ICoC) for Private Security Service Providers. Several Private Security Companies operating in El Salvador, as well as representatives of national agencies in charge of controlling and regulating this sector, participated in the event.
Private security has grown over the last years in Latin America, becoming more professional in its offer of protection and monitoring services with the use of firearms. This growth has given way to a higher demand for legal firearms and ammunitions needed by private security companies to operate. Similar to government agencies that use firearms, Private Security Companies and their agents are equally vulnerable to insecurity (thefts, attacks) and corruption (illegal selling and unlawful use of arms) which in turn can ignite the diversion of arms to illegal trafficking, and the potential for violent and criminal acts against citizen’s safety.
UNLIREC’s project, developed in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), will contribute to reducing these risks throughout training, guidance and recommendation to security companies for the purpose of helping companies improve the management and security of their arms and ammunition inventories. UNLIREC’s technical assistance is based on International standards, good practices, procedures and initiatives recognized around the world, such as the ICoC Private Security Service Providers, as well as on the ISACS.
Private Security companies interested in joining this project may do it so at no cost with the aim of increasing their capabilities and strengthening their competiveness and reputation in the market.
This project is made possible with the financial support from the Federal Government of Germany. By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC contributes to improving public security and effective implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate 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 Official (cowl@unlirec.org).
Source: UNLIREC
Jul 28, 2015 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) held a two-day training session (30 and 31 July 2015) for representatives from 26 private security companies in El Salvador as part of the Technical Workshop on Good Practices and International Standards for the Management of Arms and Munitions Inventories of Private Security Companies.
The participants received training designed to incorporate security and control procedures in facilities where arms and ammunition belonging to private security companies are stockpiled with the goal of minimizing the risk of diversion. It is well known that lost or stolen arms and ammunition, from both government and private stocks, are an important source of illegal weaponry for unlawful and criminal purposes. This risk can be significantly reduced by implementing internationally accepted international standards and good practices. Therefore, training those in charge of the storage, control, transportation, and safe-keeping of firearms and ammunition in their respective companies is a matter of vital importance in terms of control and prevention.
The workshop – delivered by UNLIREC’s Public Security Programme team – covered firearms and ammunition classification, secure storage and inventory management, risk assessment, security plans, and notification of incidents, among other topics.
This workshop forms part of a recently launched project entitled ‘Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Non-proliferation in the Private Security Sector’, which is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main goals of this project implemented in association with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) – is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices, and initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) and the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS).
By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in 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).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Source: UNLIREC
