Twenty-three forensic experts and law enforcement officers from Jamaica received training on how to conduct gender-sensitive firearms investigations.
From 24 to 31 May 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in coordination with the Ministry of National Security of Jamaica, carried out the Specialised Course on Firearms Investigations from a Gender Perspective (FIGP), aimed at strengthening participants’ technical knowledge on gender-sensitive firearms-related criminal investigations.
Participants came from the following institutions: Institute of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine; Jamaica Defence Force; Major Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA);Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The course was aimed at applying gender perspectives to criminal firearms investigations as a complementary method of analysis, thereby contributing to hypothesis free from stereotypes, as well as to identifying evidence of gender-based violence, and ensuring the respect of victims’ human rights. The presence of firearms in cases of violence against women does not only cause fatal outcomes. Firearms are also used as tools to threaten, intimidate and coerce women. Course participants agreed on the importance of strengthening interinstitutional cooperation among the different agencies involved in cases of violence against women, thus optimising their individual and collective efforts to reduce the levels of impunity. Through the support of these training activities, the Government of Jamaica showcases its commitment to prevent and eradicate violence against women.
This activity is part of the EU-funded project in support of gender mainstreamed policies, programmes and actions in the fight against small arms trafficking and misuse, in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
From 9 to 19 May 2022, the United Nations Regions Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in coordination with the Women’s Office of the Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina carried out the Specialised Course on Firearms Investigations from a Gender Perspective (FIGP).
This course, in addition to sensitising participants on the importance of applying gender perspectives in firearms-related criminal investigations, aims at strengthening their technical knowledge applicable to the scientific method of criminal investigation, as well as inter-institutional cooperation in these areas.
Forty (40) forensic professionals and officials from the Public Prosecutor’s Offices from different jurisdictions such as Buenos Aires, Salta, Santa Fe and Tucumán, completed this capacity-building activity
The training course took place virtually and comprised both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. The FIGP addressed theoretical and technical aspects of criminal investigations and the way in which applying gender perspectives, contributes to conclusions free from stereotypes. Case studies were carried out to shed light on the absence of gender approaches and how it negatively affects the rights of victims and their families.
During the training, attention was drawn to the use of firearms to commit different types of violence against women, such as threats, intimidations and coercion, among others. The importance of properly managing the crime scene and the collection of firearms and ammunition as evidence for the purpose of gender-sensitive criminal investigations was emphasised. Lastly, recommendations on gender-responsive procedures were shared and participants were urged to strengthen communication and cooperation among all actors involved in the different stages of the investigations, thus contributing to reduce the high level of impunity of violence against women.
UNLIREC organized a webinar on the use of firearms in acts of violence against women with the participation of different government sectors and civil society in Trinidad and Tobago.
On 5 May 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security, hosted the webinar “Measures to prevent armed violence against women” in Trinidad and Tobago, in which the police presented initiatives aiming to prevent domestic violence, highlighting that they must be gender and age specific. The webinar aimed to raise awareness of the necessity of firearms control for efforts seeking to prevent and eliminate violence against women.
During the webinar, challenges in identifying and measuring femicides were emphasized, especially in countries such as Trinidad and Tobago where a definition of this crime has not yet been integrated into the criminal code. The importance of collecting data on the use of firearms in cases of psychological, physical and sexual violence against women was also highlighted.
The webinar gathered more than 100 participants from different sectors of the Government, civil society organizations and the general public, who actively participated and were particularly interested in the police response to prevent and respond to domestic violence cases, involving the use of firearms.
It should be noted that the Latin American and Caribbean region presents alarming figures of gender-based intentional homicides of women and girls, also known as femicides. Likewise, according to the Observatory on Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Trinidad and Tobago has a rate of 3,1 femicides per 100,000 inhabitants which is one of the highest rates in the Caribbean region. Thus, UNLIREC carries out activities that aim to counteract this trend.
On 3 May 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Security hosted a webinar on “Measures to prevent armed violence against women”, which gathered close to 50 participants from different sectors of the Government and other organisations.
One of the main objectives of the event was to highlight the necessity of firearms control in efforts seeking to prevent and eliminate violence against women, considering that the Latin American and Caribbean region presents alarming figures of gender based intentional homicides of women and girls. According to the Observatory on Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), from 2019 to 2020, at least 4,091 femicides, or an equivalent of 11 crimes per day, were committed in 26 countries in the region while Jamaica reported a rate of 0,5 femicide per 100,000 inhabitants.
In this regard, the underlying challenges in identifying and measuring femicides were emphasized, especially in Jamaica, where a clear legal definition has not yet been integrated in the criminal code. The importance of measuring the collecting data on the use of firearms in cases of psychological, physical and sexual violence against women was also highlighted.
The main findings and recommendations of the “Normative study: making the link between norms on violence against women and small arms control and regulation norms: Analysis of CARICOM States” were presented. One of the recommendations made is the need to suspend and revoke firearms licenses in cases of gender-based violence, as well as seizing these weapons when they represent a danger for women. Likewise, the importance of ensuring the suitability of an applicant to a firearms license was highlighted, which should not be solely based on the lack of a criminal record, but also involve carrying out a risk profiling of the candidate.
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) presented their responses to domestic violence, including its most recent policy on the procedural approach taken by JCF members on domestic violence cases.
To complete the overview of national measures taken by the Government of Jamaica to prevent armed violence against women, the Bureau of Gender Affairs of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports presented the National Strategic Action Plan to Eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Jamaica (2017-2027), as well as recent legislative updates and other initiatives which seek to prevent GBV.
From the 25 April to 6 May 2022, the United Nations Regions Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in coordination with the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Women, carried out the Specialised Course on Firearms Investigations from a Gender Perspective (FIGP).
This course, in addition to sensitising participants on the importance of applying gender perspectives in firearms-related criminal investigations, aims at strengthening their technical knowledge applicable to the scientific method of criminal investigation, as well as inter-institutional cooperation in these areas.
Twenty-nine (29) officials from different institutions such as the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s office, the National Police and the Ministry of Women were trained.
The training course took place virtually and comprised both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. The FIGP addressed theoretical and technical aspects of criminal investigations and the way in which applying gender perspectives, contributes to conclusions free from stereotypes. Case studies were carried out to shed light on the absence of gender approaches and how it negatively affects the rights of victims and their families.
During the training, attention was drawn to the use of firearms to commit different types of violence against women, such as threats, intimidations and coercion, among others. The importance of properly managing the crime scene and the collection of firearms and ammunition as evidence for the purpose of gender-sensitive criminal investigations was emphasised. Lastly, recommendations on gender-responsive procedures were shared and participants were urged to strengthen communication and cooperation among all actors involved in the different stages of the investigations, thus contributing to reduce the high level of impunity of violence against women.
