On 15 November 2021, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) hosted the regional webinar on ‘Combatting Ghost Guns’. The objective of the webinar was to discuss the fabrication methodology of privately made firearms, their parts and components, share best practices for investigating privately made firearms, and review the implications of these illicit firearms on forensic analysis.
Eleven CARICOM states, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago were invited for the webinar. Over 30 officials, including 16 women, from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Security/ Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Police Forces, Defence Forces, Forensic Laboratories, Public Prosecutors Offices, Intelligence Agencies and Customs of the 11 CARICOM States actively participated in the regional webinar.
UNLIREC presented on the characteristics of privately made illicit firearms also known as ghost guns, the materials and tools required to manufacture illicit firearms, important considerations for firearms investigators and shared international experience with investigations of ghost guns. In addition, important recommendations to consider during firearms and toolmark examination of privately made illicit firearms for forensic examiners were highlighted. UNLIREC recognized that the phenomenon of privately made illicit firearms, has not been reported by Caribbean States as prevalent in the region, however, it has the potential add to insecurity. Furthermore, the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders including law enforcement agencies, forensic departments, judiciary, and policy makers to effectively combat privately made illicit firearms was highlighted throughout the webinar.
This regional webinar, carried out in line with the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Sustainable Development Goal 16.4, contributes towards the implementation of Goal 3 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, Bolster law enforcement capacity to combat illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking and their illicit possession and misuse, and ammunition, and ultimately reducing firearms-related crimes and armed violence in the Caribbean.
This webinar was generously sponsored by the United States of America. It forms part of a series of five regional webinars under the US-funded project ‘Combating of Illicit Firearms and Ammunition Trafficking in the Caribbean’.
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.
9 November 2021 – The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) hosted the 1st Annual Meeting of States to discuss the progress made in the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, including the elaboration of National Action Plans (NAPs) for Roadmap implementation. Over 90 representatives from beneficiary Caribbean States, partners and the donor community participated in this online international event to take stock of the progress made to date.
The Roadmap aims to accelerate and bolster States’ efforts to prevent and combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons among the 15 CARICOM States and the Dominican Republic. The Roadmap serves as a guiding document for commonly agreed levels of performance at the strategic, policy and operational levels. It was developed in 2019 under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States of America and formally adopted one year ago in October 2020.
The Roadmap takes into consideration the provisions found in 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), as well as the legal obligations stemming from the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (The Firearm Protocol). Its effective implementation will also contribute to the implementation of Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 16, with a specific focus on Target 16.4 aimed at significantly reducing arms flow.
To date, three Caribbean States have formally adopted their NAPs, namely Grenada, Belize and Antigua and Barbuda. These Plans outline States priorities in combating the illicit trafficking in firearms and ammunition and help to track progress by serving as a monitoring and tracking tool. Remaining States are also well on their way to progressing towards formal adoption of these Action Plans and thus contributing to enhanced firearms control in the region. Close to USD$ 4 million have been invested in the region over the past two years leading to 70 activities in the implementation of the 4 Roadmap Goals.
As a lead-up to this Meeting, UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS – as the co-custodians and main implementing partners of the Roadmap – hosted two prior meetings in October. The first was targeted at the other implementing partners, including the UN Development Programme, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, World Customs Organization, Organization of American States, INTERPOL, and Small Arms Survey, to inform and collaborate on upcoming partner activities in support of the Roadmap. While the second was aimed at the donor community, including Germany, Canada, United States of America, European Union, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, that provides essential financial support to partners in favour of beneficiary States.
For more information on the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and the progress made to date, please contact UNLIREC’s Political Affairs Officer, Amanda Cowl, at cowl@unlirec.org.
On 5 October 2021, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) held its first working thematic meeting for the Dominican Republic to discuss Goal 1 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap: reinforce regulatory frameworks governing firearms and ammunition.
Following the National Executive Seminar on the Firearms Roadmap held in July, authorities expressed their interest in receiving assistance related to Goals 1 and 4, including legal assistance for the ongoing firearms regulation drafting process, specifically the inclusion of related technical specifications, norms and standards.
During the meeting, UNLIREC provided an overview of Goal 1, including the international obligations and the technical recommendations on firearms control that States must consider in relation to the Caribbean Roadmap. The link with Goal 4 “Systematically decrease the risk of diversion of firearms and ammunition from government and non-government-owned arsenals” was also highlighted, as it encompasses the implementation of legal obligations (such as for destruction or marking), and therefore has both regulatory and technical implications. A national presentation was delivered on the ongoing regulation drafting process and the potential areas for assistance and collaboration with UNLIREC.
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), builds on Caribbean aspirations to combat illicit trafficking of firearms and enhance resilience, through support from UNLIREC, CARICOM IMPACS and other international partners, in coordination with the governments of Germany, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
This first working thematic Meeting on Goal 1, was carried out in line with 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Sustainable Development Goal 16.4 and contributes towards regional efforts to prevent illicit trafficking of firearms and ammunition.
This meeting was generously sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany.
On 11 June 2021, 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 Saint Lucia, and the Government of Germany, hosted a virtual Executive Seminar for the Advancement of Saint Lucia’s National Action Plan for the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
On 22 January 2021, CARICOM’s Council of National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSOLE) officially 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.
Saint Lucia adopted the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap in May 2021 and has already initiated concrete actions contemplated in the Roadmap by taking steps to create its National Action Plan (NAP). A total of 14 representatives of the Department of Home Affairs and National Security, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, Forensic Science Laboratory, Bordelais Correctional Facility and the Director of Public Prosecutions Office, along with members of the German Embassy, UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS participated in the NAP Executive Seminar. Participants discussed the steps needed to map out Saint Lucia’s priorities, plans, and timelines for implementing the Roadmap. The successful implementation of which 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 has pre-defined goals, targets and actions as well as recommended performance indicators, serving as a base document for Saint Lucia in the elaboration of its National Action Plan (NAP).
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.
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.
