Lima, Peru. From 3 to 5 December 2024, ten young leaders from across Latin America will gather in Lima, Peru, to reaffirm their commitment to building a region free of armed violence. This visit is part of the programme GenerAcción Paz, an initiative by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Peru. The programme aims to empower youth in the prevention of armed violence and the promotion of peace.
Building Peace Through Youth
The three-day meeting will include interactive workshops and innovative presentations in Pecha Kucha formats during a Festival of Projects, where participants will showcase their initiatives to representatives from the United Nations, embassy officials, and national stakeholders, including civil society leaders. These initiatives, developed by the young leaders together with UNLIREC and the UNDP Peru Accelerator Lab, address key challenges such as armed violence and the importance of fostering a culture of peace within their communities.
The programme will also feature the CineForo: Leading for Peace and Security in Latin America, which will be a highlight of the gathering and will take place on Tuesday, December 3, at the Lugar de la Memoria, la Tolerancia y la Inclusión Social (LUM). During the CineForo, the documentary “When the Waters Are Joined” (Cuando las aguas se juntan) will be screened. This impactful film highlights the fundamental role of Colombian women in peacebuilding after the armed conflict. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with speakers such as Arianna Pedraza, a Colombian participant in GenerAcción Paz; Mercedes Allerbon, UNLIREC project advisor; and Diego Villarán, founder of the Alto Perú Project.
As part of the programme, the young leaders will also visit the Lima District Villa El Salvador, which is recognized as a Messenger City of Peace for its outstanding history of promoting peace and citizen security. During this visit, participants will engage in a dialogue with community leaders and local authorities to learn about violence prevention initiatives implemented in this iconic Peruvian community.
“We are excited to welcome these young leaders to Lima,” said Katja Boettcher, Political Affairs Officer at UNLIREC and coordinator of the GenerAcción Paz programme. “This program represents a unique opportunity for young people to become agents of change, implementing projects to prevent armed violence and promote peace in their communities. These seeds of peace will blossom across Latin America.”
Youth as Agents of Change
Since their selection in June 2024, the ten young leaders from nine different countries have embarked on a learning journey aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions. This programme not only provides participants with knowledge on disarmament and arms control but also equips them with practical tools to develop and implement initiatives that bring positive change to their communities.
Event Details: CineForo
Date: Tuesday, 3 December 2024
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Lugar de la Memoria, la Tolerancia y la Inclusión Social (LUM), Bajada San Martín 151, Miraflores, Lima
On 15 November, UNLIREC delivered the first session of its regional webinar series on Forensic Firearms Investigations: Emerging Challenges. This initiative, funded by the Government of the United States, seeks to equip Caribbean States with the knowledge and tools necessary to identify and confront evolving firearms-related threats.
The first webinar, Ghost Guns: Self-Fabricated Firearms & Privately Manufactured Firearms, brought together over 90 participants from across the Caribbean, including senior law enforcement officials, criminal investigators, ballistics experts, legal personnel, policy officers, and other State representatives.
The webinar provided a deep dive into the history and evolution of privately manufactured firearms, commonly referred to as ghost guns due to their untraceable nature. Such firearms are manufactured outside traditional commercial processes and built-in accountability mechanisms such as marking, often using 3D printers or assembly kits. These weapons are untraceable due to their lack of serial numbers, making them a challenge for law enforcement. They are increasingly appearing in crime scenes worldwide, including in the Caribbean, complicating efforts to trace their origin or link them to criminal networks.
The webinar also provided critical insights into crime scene management and investigative strategies specific to ghost guns. Different techniques were discussed for identifying and collecting evidence related to self-fabricated firearms, as well as the legal hurdles that arise when prosecuting crimes involving these weapons.
UNLIREC’s webinar series is part of a broader effort to enhance the forensic and investigative capacities across the Caribbean. Firearms trafficking and gun violence remain significant challenges in the region, exacerbated by the emergence of ghost guns and other innovative technologies, but States remain committed to countering these challenges as part of a common initiative, the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. Through these webinars, UNLIREC aims to support the implementation of these efforts.
NEW YORK, 11 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) —The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) is delighted to announce the launch of its new podcast series, Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast, which is dedicated to highlighting the voices of women from Latin America and the Caribbean who work in disarmament.
Over the course of 10 episodes, listeners will be invited to reflect on the importance of women’s voices in peace, security and disarmament. “At UNLIREC, we are proud to provide a platform that celebrates and supports women who are making forward strides in traditionally male-dominated fields,” said Soledad Urruela, Director of UNLIREC. “This podcast will spotlight their achievements, the challenges they overcome, and their vision for a safer and more equitable world.”
Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast features a diverse lineup of women, including experts, diplomats, policymakers and civil society leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean, who will share their personal journeys and insights on advancing peace and security worldwide.
Featured guests include inspiring women leaders such as Kettly Julien (Haiti), Ana Pamela Romero (Mexico), Mayla Alejandra de León (Guatemala), Clarissa Rojas (Peru), Elizabeth Ward (Jamaica), Tamika Henry (Guyana), Nadine Bushell (Trinidad and Tobago), Constanza Bucarey (Chile), Carina Solmirano (Argentina) and Juliana Aguiar (Brazil). A special episode will feature Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, and Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, who, together with Ms. Urruela, will reflect on the progress in the United Nations General Assembly resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. The podcast series launched on 8 November and will run for a month, with the final episode airing on 8 December to coincide with the fourteenth anniversary of the adoption of the resolution.
Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast will be available on platforms, such as Spotify and YouTube, and will feature conversations in English, Spanish and French.
Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast is funded by the Government of Canada and is aimed at strengthening and promoting the key role of Latin American and Caribbean women in disarmament and security in the region.
This podcast series builds on UNLIREC’s original publication series Women, Forces of Change, which has highlighted the contributions and perspectives of over 200 women in disarmament since 2012.
About UNLIREC
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, is one of three regional centres under the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. Since its establishment in 1986, the Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean has worked to promote peace, security and disarmament in the region.
From 23 to 25 September 2024, the Government of The Bahamas, in supported by 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), held a three-day Inter-Institutional Roundtable Meeting in Nassau to advance on the development of their National Action Plan as part of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap initiative.
This roundtable marks a key milestone for The Bahamas, aligning its national priorities with the overarching vision of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap to create a safer region. By developing a National Action Plan, The Bahamas joins twelve other Caribbean nations in identifying priority actions and tracking progress in combating illicit firearms trafficking.
The event brought together 22 representatives, including nine women, from agencies such as Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Justice, Defense, Customs, Immigration, and Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on monitoring, evaluation, and national firearms-related challenges, with participants adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing illicit firearms trafficking, and fostering a collaborative framework for future progress.
Presentations and discussions covered the legal framework for Goal 1 and best practices for Goals 2, 3, and 4. As a result, The Bahamas outlined national priorities and concrete actions they wish to take forward in their National Action Plan and completed a significant portion of its baseline assessment.
The meeting was aligned with the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particular Goal 16, and was financially supported by the United States Government.
Kingston/Jamaica, 18 September 2024 – In an effort to take a stand against firearm violence in Jamaican schools, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) have launched a competition entitled “Music and Visual Art for Change: Preventing Firearm Violence in Schools”. This initiative invites students ages 12 to 19 across Jamaica to use their artistic and musical talents to convey the powerful message of peace and firearm violence prevention.
The “Music and Visual Art for Change” competition seeks to harness the transformative power of music and art to address and prevent firearms possession and violence in schools. By encouraging Jamaican youth to create art and music that promote peace, this initiative aspires to shape a positive narrative that stands against the normalization of firearm violence.
The competition seeks to emphasize that firearms are not symbols of power or strength. True strength is found in standing firm in one’s values, prompting peace, unity, and positive change, including through creative self-expression. Respect is earned through kindness and establishing non-violent conflict resolution in communities, while cultivating positive influences. By embracing these principles, the initiative aims to support and inspire the younger generation to reject violence and build safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.
How to Participate
Jamaican students, ages 12 to 19, can submit their artistic creations, including paintings, drawings, graphic designs, photographs or musical compositions at www.unlirec.org/music-art by 21 October 2024. Entries should reflect the core message of non-violence and peace, promoting the prevention of the possession of firearms and their use in schools.
The competition opens today, 18 September 2024, and will run until 21 October 2024. Entries will be reviewed between 21 October 2024 and 10 November 2024, and the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite submissions via social media. Finalists will be announced on 11 November 2024. The competition will culminate with an event held in Kingston, Jamaica, during the month of November, which will showcase the submissions of the finalists and will be followed by an award ceremony to announce the winners of the competition.
To learn more visit www.unlirec.org/music-art and follow UNLIREC´s and MOEY´s social media accounts for updates and announcements: @unlirec_official, @moeyjamaica, @unjamaica.
Help us spread the word about this important initiative by sharing this opportunity with your friends, family, and colleagues! Together, we can create a safer future, free from firearm violence, in Jamaica.
“Music and Visual Art for Change: Preventing Firearms Violence in Schools” is part of the activities carried out by the United Nations and Jamaican authorities under the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) fund initiative in Jamaica. This initiative seeks to tackle armed violence in Jamaica as part of a comprehensive approach to sustainable security and development.
This competition supports the implementation of the Youth, Peace, Security agenda; the United Nations General Assembly resolutions on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) plays a vital role in advancing arms control, fostering peace, and supporting sustainable development across the region.
On 23 July, 25 July, and 14 August 2024, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) delivered a series of webinars centred on the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) component of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap (CFRM).
The three webinars were conducted as part of a broader initiative to support States in their monitoring and evaluation efforts, titled “Roadmap to Reporting: A Sensitization and Training Series for Monitoring and Evaluation under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap” ahead of the reporting deadline of 25 September 2024.
The webinars addressed three key topics, beginning with an introduction to M&E for the CFRM, followed by the data collection for the CFRM, and the use of data to advance the CFRM.
Presentations were delivered by UNLIREC, CARICOM IMPACS, and the United Nations Development Programme, Southern Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNDP SEESAC). Additionally, States were invited to share their experiences with the M&E processes of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap during these sessions.
A total of fifty-nine persons participated in at least one of the webinars, including twenty-two women, representing nine States: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The series of webinars was carried out in line with Goal 1 of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, in particular, Action 1.3.3, as well as Sustainable Development Goal 16, “Peace, justice, and strong institutions” (Target 16.4), and were made possible with funding from Canada.
UNLIREC, as the regional centre for the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean. This effort is part of its commitment to support Member States in implementing international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular the 2001 United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms (UN PoA).
