Apr 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 4 – 22 February 2013, technical specialists from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) joined forces with the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic (MAF-DR) to destroy over 10,000 surplus and obsolete small arms and more than 20 tonnes of surplus and obsolete small arms and light weapons ammunition. These achievements represent another important benchmark in the implementation of a National Action Plan for Stockpile Management and Firearms and Ammunition Destruction jointly developed by UNLIREC and MAF-DR in 2010 thanks to a grant provided by the United States Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement.
All weapons were destroyed using hydraulic shears and disc saws donated by UNLIREC to the MAF-DR and in accordance with a set of UNLIREC standard operating procedures based on the UN International Small Arms Control Standards. Small arms ammunition was destroyed with an ammunition burning tank designed by UNLIREC and donated to the MAF-DR. Light Weapons ammunition was destroyed via open burning/open detonation operations at the Sierra Prieta demolition camp in accordance with the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
To date, as part of the joint implementation of the National Action Plan, UNLIREC and the MAF-DR have destroyed almost 12,000 weapons, disposed of over 41 tonnes of small arms and light weapons ammunition, enhanced the security of 40 weapons and ammunition stockpile facilities and trained 56 officials in stockpile management and destruction standards and operations. UNLIREC and MAF-DR plan to destroy an additional 20,000 surplus and obsolete military and police weapons before the National Action Plan is complete.
Sound stockpile management, including the regular destruction of surplus and obsolete weapons and ammunition, is a key measure in efforts to combat illicit small arms trafficking under the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms. UNLIREC, the regional arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is based in Lima, Peru and provides technical assistance to the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer [cowl@unlirec.org].
Apr 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
Thirty-four (34) technical experts from Central American and neighbouring countries met in San José, Costa Rica, from 31 January to 1 February 2013 for stockpile management and small arms and ammunition destruction training. The event was co-organised by the Ministry of Public Security of Costa Rica and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), and was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Federal Republic of Germany.
This regional seminar brought together Central American professionals and practitioners in the field of stockpile management to enable them to exchange information, examine best practices and strengthen their networks of contacts. Stockpile management training was based on the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), the latter having been recently approved by the United Nations General Assembly.
This workshop forms part of an UNLIREC assistance package entitled “Preventing Armed Violence in Central America through the Combat of Illicit Trafficking in Firearms”, which supports the efforts made by Central American States to improve public security and enhance their implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (2001).
For further information on UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org). For inquiries please contact: Carina Van Vliet, Political Affairs Officer (vanvliet@unlirec.org)
Mar 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
La Asamblea General convocará una Conferencia Final de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Tratado sobre el Comercio de Armas (TCA), del 18 al 28 de marzo de 2013 en Nueva York, “con el fin de elaborar un instrumento jurídicamente vinculante con los más elevados estándares internacionales comunes para la transferencia de armas convencionales”. La Conferencia Final tiene como objetivo concluir el proceso del TCA, después del fracaso en la Conferencia del TCA en julio de 2012 para llegar a un acuerdo acerca del proyecto del tratado. La designación de la “Conferencia Final” señala la intención de los Estados Miembros de llevar las negociaciones a buen término.
Las negociaciones del TCA representan la primera vez que los Estados se reúnen para negociar un tratado que regule las armas convencionales bajo el auspicio de las Naciones Unidas. Las discusiones se han llevado a cabo desde 2006. La meta es la adopción de un tratado que sea sólido y jurídicamente vinculante, y que tendrá un impacto real en las vidas de millones de personas que sufren las consecuencias del conflicto y violencia armada, delincuencia e inseguridad. Las organizaciones no gubernamentales, tales como grupos de derechos humanos y de desarrollo, las organizaciones de control de armas y los simpatizantes de los derechos a portar armas, han demostrado un interés claro en las negociaciones del TCA, así como las industrias de fabricación y comercio de armas.
Las negociaciones del TCA no están libres de problemas. El comercio mundial de armas tiene ramificaciones que tocan los intereses nacionales fundamentales. Aquí existen varias preocupaciones y perspectivas legítimas en juego. Asimismo, existen ideas equivocadas acerca de las metas del TCA impulsadas por detractores, en particular por algunos sectores de la sociedad civil que reclaman, por ejemplo, que “las Naciones Unidas tomará las armas de los ciudadanos obedientes de la ley”. La Secretaría de las Naciones Unidas ofrece un lugar para estas conversaciones entre los representantes de Gobiernos y facilita sus reuniones – pero no forma parte de las negociaciones.
La Oficina de Asuntos de Desarme de las Naciones Unidas mantiene una página web (solo en inglés): www.un.org/disarmament/ATT.
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).
Mar 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 18 – 22 March, UNLIREC undertook a technical mission to Belize with the financial support of the British High Commission in Belmopan to provide training and assistance in the area of operational forensic ballistics. In 2012 the National Forensic Science Service of Belize received an Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS) from the Government of Canada, a sophisticated piece of equipment that enables the rapid comparison of spent bullets and cartridges recovered from crime scenes. In recent years Belize has experienced a marked increase in armed violence with nearly 95% of all homicides committed with firearms.
The UNLIREC technical mission began the week convening a meeting of high level officials from the executive and judicial branches to raise awareness on forensic ballistic issues. The meeting was followed by a joint UNLIREC/NFSS four-day training course on Operational Forensic Ballistics for 22 Belizean officials. The course covered crime scene management of ballistic evidence, health and safety issues, validation of evidence, forensic examination of firearms and ammunition, recording and reporting, comparison macroscopy and firearms residues tests.
Additionally, UNLIREC produced a set of fourteen Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Operational Forensic Ballistics to support the NFSS in its ongoing implementation of IBIS. UNLIREC will also be providing the NFSS with a detailed assessment of existing forensic ballistics capabilities and resources and future requirements to assist in long-term implementation of IBIS with a view to reducing impunity in cases of illicit trafficking and armed violence. According to UNLIREC Technical Adviser Philip Boyce ´´IBIS is the global standard equipment for forensic ballistics, but in the end must be supported by human beings capable of properly identifying firearms and ammunition, viewing evidence under a macroscope and responding to judges and prosecutors in a court of law.´´
Sound operational forensic ballistic capabilities, both electronic and manual data management systems, make important contributions in combating illicit small arms trafficking under the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms. UNLIREC, the regional arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is based in Lima, Peru and provides technical assistance to the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information on UNLIREC visit www.unlirec.org
Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, cowl@unlirec.org
Mar 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 3 – 7 June 2013, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament Development in Latin America the Caribbean (UNLIREC), the Ministry of National Security (MNS) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) collaborated in the destruction of 6.8 tonnes of surplus and obsolete small arms and light weapons ammunition. Eighteen Jamaican officials were trained on the safe operation of the UNLIREC-designed small arms ammunition burning tank (SAABT). Additionally, six JDF officials were trained in light weapons ammunition destruction operations according to the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines.
In December 2010, UNLIREC and the MNS jointly formulated a National Action Plan for Firearms and Ammunition Stockpile Management and Destruction resulting in the destruction of 1,972 surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons and nearly seven tonnes of small arms and light weapons ammunition. Additionally, as part of the National Action Plan, security was enhanced at government stockpile facilities with the installation of international standard padlocks and 57 officials were trained in techniques to combat illicit trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives.
UNLIREC assistance to the Government of Jamaica is made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of State, which forms part of a wider US-funded Caribbean Assistance Package. To date, UNLIREC and the Member States of the Caribbean have destroyed more than 40,000 weapons and 57 tonnes of ammunition as part of this package.
Sound stockpile management practices and the regular destruction of surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons and ammunition are key measures called for in the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms for combating proliferation and preventing armed violence. UNLIREC, the regional arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is based in Lima, Peru, and provides technical assistance to the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Feb 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Centre for Research and Promotion of Human Rights (CIPRODEH) partnered to support the Secretariat of Security of the Republic of Honduras in organizing a Legal Seminar on the Draft Law for the Control of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and other Related Materials in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The seminar was held thanks to the generous contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany.
The seminar brought together 62 participants (22 women) from various institutions including the Secretariat for Security, the Secretariat of Defence, the Presidency of the Republic, the National Assembly, civil society organizations, private security companies and shooting sports associations. The seminar was presided over by the Minister of Security Pompeyo Bonilla, while the Honourable Deputy Mario Pérez, President of the Security Commission of the National Congress, moderated the open discussions.
During the seminar, UNLIREC presented a legal report on the draft law vis a vis the international instruments in the global and regional contexts and the International Small Arms Control Standards. It is worth mentioning that this draft bill has been revised and agreed upon by the security and defence sectors of the Government as well as civil society organizations, and is currently awaiting government approval in the National Congress.
The Deputies will have to deliberate and come to a consensus on positions regarding controversial issues, such as the number of licenses and firearms per person and the possession and carrying of these weapons; the minimum age limit for obtaining a firearms license; calibres authorized for civil use and calibres restricted for use by law enforcement authorities; the organization and functioning of ballistic records; and stricter controls for private security companies and their firearms, among others. The draft bill is expected to be debated in the National Congress in the coming weeks.
This activity forms part of the assistance package entitled “Preventing Armed Violence in Central America through the Combat of Illicit Trafficking in Firearms,” which supports the efforts made by the States in the region to improve public security and enhance their implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
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].
