Nov 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 23 November 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Government of Germany, hosted a virtual Executive Seminar for the Advancement of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Action Plan for the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
Antigua and Barbuda has adopted the ‘Roadmap for Implementing The Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030’ (Caribbean Firearms Roadmap), which consolidates and builds upon the 2019 actions adopted by Caribbean Heads of Governments on addressing the illicit trafficking of firearms in the region.
Antigua and Barbuda, along with two other Caribbean States, initiated concrete actions contemplated in the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap by taking steps to create its National Action Plan (NAP). A total of 25 representatives of the Ministry of National Security and Labour, Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy and Customs and Excise Division, along with members of the German Embassy, UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS participated in the NAP Executive Seminar. Participants discussed the Roadmap and steps needed to map out Jamaica’s priorities, plans and timelines for implementing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. The successful implementation of the Roadmap will require both the concerted efforts of national authorities, as well as the timely, targeted and coordinated support of regional and international partners and donors.
The Roadmap serves as a base document for Antigua and Barbuda in the elaboration of its National Action Plan (NAP). It includes four main goals: (1) reinforce regulatory frameworks governing firearms and ammunition; (2) reduce the illicit flow of firearms and ammunition into, within and beyond the region; (3) bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse; and (4) systematically decrease the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government- and non-government-owned arsenals. Each goal incorporates pre-defined actions and targets, recommended performance indicators, all in alignment with a timeline, which runs from 2020 to 2030, to coincide with the culmination of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS, as the main implementing partners, will lend technical assistance in the elaboration of the NAPs and in their successive implementation. The governments of Canada, Germany, United States of America and the United Kingdom have pledged support to the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
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 instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Nov 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 20 November 2020, UNLIREC carried out a Workshop to assist Chilean authorities responsible for drafting the national Regulations of the Law that implements the Biological Weapons Convention (Law 21.250). The event was supported by “UNODA’s Trust Fund for Global and Regional Disarmament Activities – in support of resolution 1540 (2004)”, financed by the Government of Canada, and it was organized with the technical support of the. Director of Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
Discussions among the over 50 participants (25 women) evolved around the following topics: the basis for national legislation to control biological agents and assets that can be used for both legitimate (e.g. medicine) and illegitimate purposes (biological weapons proliferation); best practices to prevent the diversion and misuse of biological agents and toxins (biosecurity), and relevant measures contained in the US legislation that could be of interest for Chile. In addition, a fruitful exchange of views was held on criteria for defining the content of a national control list of biological agents and toxins, as well as the requirements for the authorization of the legitimate use of such items.
Moreover, the workshop facilitated dialogue on needs and further steps that need to be taken to strengthen the national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention and United Nations Security Council resolution 1540. In this regard, the event contributes to Chile’s efforts to comply with its international obligations regarding the non-proliferation of biological 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.
Nov 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 20 November 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Governments of Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago, hosted a Webinar for Forensic Laboratory Directors and Firearm Examiners on The Impact of COVID-19 on Firearm Examination.
The onset of the COVI-19 pandemic has affected every type of workplace, however, little has been done to identify the unique challenges for forensic firearm examination or the mitigating strategies employed by forensic ballistic laboratories. The COVID-19 Webinar explored the challenges faced by Caribbean forensic ballistic laboratories in light of the pandemic, the steps taken to mitigate the transmission of the disease and good practices implemented in forensic ballistic laboratories around the world.
The Webinar also reviewed findings from research conducted by UNLIREC’s Forensic Ballistics Technical Advisor on the topic across forensic ballistic laboratories in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. During the webinar, UNLIREC shared key responses to survey questions received from 38 laboratories, in 25 countries on challenges faced and good practices implemented to mitigate COVID-19 transmission and ensure an efficient working environment. The webinar also provided an opportunity for Laboratory Directors and Senior firearm examiners from the participating countries to share their experiences on managing staff during the pandemic, firearms caseload management, sanitization and protective measures to mitigate transmission, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) being implemented to ensure a safe and efficient working environment.
In total, 25 firearms examiners, including 7 women, from Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Barbados Police Force, Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force, Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, Trinidad and Tobago Forensic Science Centre, and Trinidad and Tobago Police Service participated in the webinar.
The webinar forms part of the Phase 3 of the Operational Forensic Ballistics technical assistance provided to the Caribbean States, with the financial support of the Government of the United States.
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 instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
Nov 16, 2020 | Uncategorized
Illicit arms trafficking is one of the main threats to security worldwide. In this context and as part of the technical assistance that UNLIREC provides to Latin American and Caribbean States to help strengthen their capacities to combat and prevent this scourge, from November 16 to 20, 2020, the Interdicting Small Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components Course (ISAAPCC) was held virtually, directed at El Salvador’s X-ray operators who perform control and inspection functions at entry, exit and transit points in the country.
In recent decades, criminal networks have been identified as using different modalities to illegally traffic small arms, parts, components and ammunition across country borders, using postal mail systems, parcels, household goods, baggage, air cargo, among others.
This specialized course trained 30 X-ray operators from the Borders Division of the National Civilian Police (PNC), Executive Autonomous Port Commission (CEPA) and Customs General Directorate of El Salvador.
Based on a theoretical-practical methodology, this group of operators received training on the fundamental aspects of X-ray technology, technical specifications on small arms, their parts and components, ammunition, as well as on explosives and concealment methods. Participants also received practical training via an online platform developed by the Centre for Adaptive Security Research and Applications, whereby they developed their skills to effectively recognize these types of threats.
It should be noted that this specialized course has been designed considering international standards and good practices on the importance of continuous training for X-ray scanner operators, to achieve optimal levels of security at strategic points, thus helping to reduce the levels of criminality and violence associated with firearms.
This new virtual edition of the ISAAPCC was made possible thanks to the financial support from the German Government.
Nov 4, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 4-5 November 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Peru and Bolivia, carried out a binational workshop on preventing and combating illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition.
Over 60 officials from various national agencies with responsibilities for implementation of arms and ammunition control measures participated in the workshop, some of them with responsibilities related to border controls and cooperation to prevent illicit cross-border movements of firearms and ammunition.
The workshop highlighted the relevance of marking and tracing of small arms and ammunition as key control measures to combat illicit trafficking.
UNLIREC presented marking and tracing obligations as covered under international instruments, technical guidelines, standards and regional best practices and an introduction to forensic ballistics, automated comparison systems, and the role of the expert in providing technical and statistical support to policy makers tackling small arms control. INTERPOL joined the event and delivered a presentation on its Firearms Programme and specific tracing tools to facilitate international firearm tracing activities.
This workshop contributes to Peru and Bolivia´s efforts against illicit arms and ammunition trafficking and to encourage cooperation and coordination among agencies with responsibilities in the implementation of arms and ammunition control measures at national and binational levels.
This workshop forms part of the “Combatting Illicit Firearms and Ammunition trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean” project and its implementation is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Germany.
Oct 30, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 30 October 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), in collaboration with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, and the Government of Germany, hosted a virtual Executive Seminar for the Advancement of St Kitts and Nevis’s National Action Plan for the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
St Kitts and Nevis has adopted the ‘Roadmap for Implementing The Caribbean Priority Actions on the Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Ammunition across the Caribbean in a Sustainable Manner by 2030’ (Caribbean Firearms Roadmap), which consolidates and builds upon the 2019 actions adopted by Caribbean Heads of Governments on addressing the illicit trafficking of firearms in the region.
Following adoption, St Kitts and Nevis became the second State to commence concrete actions contemplated in the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap by taking steps to create its National Action Plan (NAP). Eighteen representatives of the Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defence Force, Police Force, Customs Authority and Fire Department, along with members of the German Federal Foreign Ministry, UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS participated in the NAP Executive Seminar. Participants discussed the Roadmap and steps needed to map out St Kitts and Nevis’s priorities, plans and timelines for implementing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. The successful implementation of the Roadmap will require both the concerted efforts of national authorities, as well as the timely, targeted and coordinated support of regional and international partners and donors.
The Roadmap serves as a base document for St Kitts and Nevis in the elaboration of its National Action Plan (NAP). It includes four main goals: (1) reinforce regulatory frameworks governing firearms and ammunition; (2) reduce the illicit flow of firearms and ammunition into, within and beyond the region; (3) bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse; and (4) systematically decrease the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government- and non-government-owned arsenals. Each goal incorporates pre-defined actions and targets, recommended performance indicators, all in alignment with a timeline, which runs from 2020 to 2030, to coincide with the culmination of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS, as the main implementing partners, will lend technical assistance in the elaboration of the NAPs and in their successive implementation. The governments of Canada, Germany, United States of America and the United Kingdom have pledged support to the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
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.
