May 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
Del 27 al 31 de mayo, UNLIREC asistió al Gobierno de Barbados en la destrucción de 1,500 armas incautadas y obsoletas y 1.9 toneladas de municiones de armas pequeñas, gas vencido CS, granadas antidisturbios y otros explosivos.
Todas las armas pequeñas fueron destruidas utilizando un conjunto de cizallas hidráulicas donadas por UNLIREC al Gobierno de Barbados, mientras que las municiones se destruyeron utilizando el Tanque de Quemado de Municiones de Armas Pequeñas (TAQUEMU) diseñado por UNLIREC. Todas las armas y municiones destruidas fueron documentadas de conformidad con las normas internacionales y con los Procedimientos Operativos Estándar (SOP, por sus siglas en inglés) de UNLIREC.
En la ceremonia de entrega celebrada en la Comisaría Central de la Policía, el Comisionado de la Policía de Barbados Darwin Dottin destacó “… el muy alto nivel de violencia y el uso criminal de las armas de fuego está promoviendo violencia en [la] región” y elogió a UNLIREC por donar equipos que ayudarían a la policía en la destrucción de armas y municiones excedentes y obsoletas.
UNLIREC también proporcionó entrenamiento a doce oficiales de la Policía y de Defensa sobre el uso de las cizallas hidráulicas, mientras que tres funcionarios fueron entrenados en cuanto a su mantenimiento. Se capacitó, también, a diez oficiales en el uso del Tanque de Quemado de Municiones de Armas Pequeñas- Pirotécnicos. El equipo y la capacitación fueron proporcionados con el fin de asegurar que Barbados tenga la capacidad técnica y humana permanente necesaria para destruir armas y municiones excedentes, obsoletas y confiscadas en el futuro. Las actividades realizadas fueron posibles gracias al apoyo financiero del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América.
UNLIREC sirve a 33 países de la región para asistir en el desarrollo de las políticas de desarme y en la implementación de los instrumentos internacionales de desarme, en particular el Programa de Acción sobre Armas Pequeñas de la ONU (2001).
Para mayor información sobre UNLIREC visite [www.unlirec.org]. En caso de alguna consulta por favor contacte a: Amanda Cowl, Oficial de Asuntos Políticos [cowl@unlirec.org].
May 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
The newly refurbished and improved main armoury of Argentina’s Federal Police was unveiled by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs – through its Regional Disarmament Centre (UNLIREC) – together with the Ministry of Security. Improvements to the Federal Police armoury were carried out based on technical recommendations made by UNLIREC in 2012 following a collaborative baseline assessment of eleven federal facilities and the development of a national action plan for their improved management.
The overall UNLIREC/Ministry of Security project aims to align stockpile facilities and practices with relevant international standards, such as the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). By building government officials’ capacities to effectively manage stockpiles and bolstering the infrastructure of facilities where weapons, ammunition and explosives are stored, the Government of Argentina significantly reduces the risk of theft, loss, diversion and accidents, in addition to improving its own operational efficiency.
In addition to the inauguration of the main police stockpile facility, 6,710 surplus weapons were crushed and smelted in a public-private partnership with a local metallurgical company. The destruction process was monitored and verified jointly by UNLIREC and the national firearms register (RENAR) in accordance with ISACS 05.50 Destruction: Weapons. These efforts supplement the Government´s national voluntary disarmament campaign, which has succeeded at removing over 145,000 small arms and more than 1 million rounds of ammunition from circulation.
The UNLIREC/Argentina partnership for the modernization of stockpile management is unique in that the Government of Argentina finances its own technical assistance through a broader United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Framework for improving knowhow and capabilities for planning citizen security policies. It is the aspiration of the Regional Centre that other Member States in the region will replicate this bilateral funding modality in the years to come.
Since 2004, UNLIREC has provided stockpile management and destruction assistance to 17 Latin American and Caribbean Member States through assessment, capacity-building and the provision of equipment resulting in the destruction of more than 550,000 surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons and over 700,000 rounds of ammunition. The implementation of stockpile management and destruction measures is a crucial commitment taken on by States within the framework of the United Nations 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to Ms Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at [cowl@unlirec.org].
May 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
UNLIREC, in collaboration with the Royal St. Vincent and Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), facilitated the destruction of 164 seized and obsolete weapons and over 37,000 rounds of small arms ammunition from 20 to 24 May 2013. All weapons and ammunition were destroyed and documented in accordance with UNLIREC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Eleven law enforcement officials were also trained by UNLIREC on firearms and ammunition destruction in order to guarantee permanent national capacities in this area.
All small arms were destroyed using a set of hydraulic shears donated by UNLIREC to the RSVGPF in 2012, while the small arms ammunition was burned using the UNLIREC-patented small arms ammunition burning tank (SAABT) delivered to the Caribbean island in 2013. Larger calibre ammunition and time-expired pyrotechnics were destroyed through an open detonation process following established UNLIREC SOPs based on the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
UNLIREC assistance to St. Vincent and the Grenadines forms part of a larger UNLIREC programme for firearms destruction and stockpile management support to Caribbean States aimed at combating illicit trafficking by reducing the risk of theft and diversion from government holdings of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
Prior to providing this assistance, UNLIREC undertook a detailed baseline assessment of the country’s capacity to destroy weapons and manage weapons and ammunition stockpiles, which served as a foundation for the formulation of the country’s national plan of action in this area. Forty international standard padlocks were also provided by UNLIREC to enhance levels of storage and security at key government stockpiles. The activities carried out were made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC serves 33 countries in the region in assisting them in the development of disarmament policies and the implementation of international disarmament instruments, most notably the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org.) Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at (cowl@unlirec.org).
Apr 22, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 22 to 26 April 2013, UNLIREC, in close collaboration with the Police and Defence Force of Antigua and Barbuda, supported the destruction of close to 400 seized and obsolete weapons and one tonne of small arms ammunition and time-expired CS gas. All weapons and ammunition destroyed were documented in accordance with UNLIREC’s standard operating procedures. UNLIREC also provided training on firearms and ammunition destruction techniques to fourteen law enforcement officials with a view to permanently installing technical and human resource capacity to engage in independent destructions.
All small arms were destroyed using a set of hydraulic shears provided by UNLIREC to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, while the ammunition was burned using the UNLIREC-patented Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT).
All UNLIREC destruction assistance to Antigua and Barbuda forms part of a wider UNLIREC programme for firearms destruction and stockpile management support to Caribbean States aimed at combating illicit trafficking by reducing the risk of theft and diversion from government holdings of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
UNLIREC also undertook a baseline assessment of the country’s capacity to destroy weapons and manage stockpiles, which served as an essential step towards the formulation of the country’s national plan of action in this area. Forty international standard padlocks were also provided by UNLIREC – under the umbrella of the same Caribbean Assistance Package – to enhance levels of storage and security at key government stockpiles.
The activities carried out were made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC serves 33 countries in the region in assisting them in the development of disarmament policies and the implementation of international disarmament instruments, most notably the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org.) Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at (cowl@unlirec.org).
Apr 13, 2013 | Uncategorized
On 13 – 15 March 2013, UNLIREC assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the destruction of approximately 14,000 rounds of small arms ammunition and almost one tonne of light weapons ammunition, including mortars and grenades. The destruction activities took place at the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Teteron and Tucker Valley Demolition Grounds using UNLIREC expertise and equipment. The destruction process included independent monitoring and verification by UNLIREC.
Since the beginning of its assistance to the Caribbean State, UNLIREC has supported the Government in the destruction of almost 6 tonnes of small arms ammunition and almost one tonne of light weapons ammunition. To date, UNLIREC has trained six members of the Defence Force in safe logistic destruction of ammunition by open detonation and a further 11 members of the security services on destruction by Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT).
All UNLIREC-assisted destruction activities in Trinidad and Tobago form part of a larger UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, launched in Jamaica in 2010, and carried out in eight Caribbean countries with the financial support of the USA and Canada. Since October 2011, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in the destruction of nearly 2,500 surplus, obsolete and confiscated small arms and provided equipment and training to the country in order to guarantee permanent national capacity for destruction processes.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serve over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the United Nations 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
The destruction of firearms and ammunition in cooperation with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is part of joint efforts to combat the illicit trafficking in firearms, strengthen the capacity of the country’s security forces and reduce armed violence throughout the country and sub-region.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to Ms Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at [cowl@unlirec.org].
Apr 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
In Buenos Aires, from 4 to 15 of November, 2013, the Ministry of Security of Argentina and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latina America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) progressed on their technical cooperation to update arms control practices and policies.
During this event, UNLIREC assessed the four federal security forces on firearms and ammunition management. This assessment is based on International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and it aims to improve stockpile infrastructures, strengthen staff capacity, and enhance stockpile management practices within the federal forces. In addition, different weapons and ammunition marking proposals and techniques were analyzed and discussed.
The current year, UNLIREC conducted assessments in several stockpile facilities and gave recommendations to improve infrastructures, standard operating procedures and training processes. During next year, besides working on these areas, UNLIREC will provide assistance in a destruction process for obsolete firearms. Additionally, the scope of activities will be extended to reach different areas of the country. The collaboration, ongoing since 2012, falls within the framework of the citizen security project led by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Argentina.
In 2013, UNLIREC provided assistance in stockpile management and weapons and ammunition destruction to 17 Member States in the region providing equipment and training, and conducting evaluations. More than 50 tons of ammunition and almost 45.000 firearms were destroyed, including surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons, and more than 130 stockpile facilities were improved. Implementing firearms destructions and stockpile management standards is one of the main commitments assumed by the States within the framework of the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Armas and Light Weapons.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). For enquiries, please contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
