Under the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA), governments are encouraged to implement effective measures for and cooperate in tracing illicit small arms and light weapons, exchanging relevant information, and using technologies to improve the detection and tracing of these weapons.
In efforts to enhance tracing capabilities, UNLIREC works with States to reinforce national forensic procedures for tracing illicit small arms and prosecuting criminals and traffickers through increasing the capacity of states to:
- trace 100% of illicit firearms
- restore serial numbers obliterated on firearms
- connect previously unknown firearm crimes
- identify and prosecute firearm offenders
- present reliable ballistic evidence in courts of law
- reduce backlog of firearms-related open cases.
- improv ballistic information sharing among States
- uncover, investigate and prosecute firearms trafficking cases
- interdict illicit firearms shipped via postal cargo
- improve maritime trafficking interdiction
With the support of:

Canada

United States
Fact Sheet
Preventing and Solving Gun Crimes through Forensic Ballistics
News
Saint Kitts and Nevis enhances their forensic ballistics capabilities From 16—21 October, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) delivered the Introduction to Operational Forensic Ballistics Training and conducted…
UNLIREC holds Serial Number Restoration Course for St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago From 25 – 28 January in St Kitts and Nevis, and from 31 January - 2 February in Trinidad and Tobago, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and…
UNLIREC holds Regional Webinar on Building a Crime Gun Preventive Strategy in the Caribbean On 20 January 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) hosted the regional webinar on ‘Building a Crime Gun…
UNLIREC holds Regional Webinar on Privately Made Firearms and Implications for Forensic Analysis with 10 CARICOM States On 7 December 2021, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), hosted a regional webinar on Privately Made Firearms and…
UNLIREC holds Serial Number Restoration Courses for Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda From 9 – 12 November and from 15 – 18 November, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration…
UNLIREC holds National Tracing Workshop and Roundtable Meeting with Guyana On 8 November 2021, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, hosted an… 