Jul 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
Over the past few decades, media reports of incidents involving firearms in schools have been increasingly recurring in many countries of the region. These incidents include firearms found inside schools, students who are caught carrying firearms among their belongings, armed students who threaten and intimidate their classmates and teachers, injuries and fatalities as a result of intentional and accidental gunshots inside schools, and even shootings. This phenomenon poses enormous challenges in ensuring safe learning spaces for girls, boys, adolescents and young people in the region.
Within this context, and to better contribute to the understanding and approach of this problem about which little has been investigated, UNLIREC recently developed a study entitled ‘Firearms in Latin American and Caribbean Schools: Approaches, Challenges and Responses’.
In addition to providing a regional overview of the subject, this study also touches on a series of measures to accurately address the presence and use of firearms in schools, which is available to States, civil society, school communities and other actors working in the areas of citizen security, arms control and school violence prevention. These measures are already being implemented in some countries of the region.
The initiatives included in this study include protocols and guidelines for intervention against the presence and use of firearms, tools for gathering information and records of incidents, safe gun storage measures at home, as well as education and awareness campaigns, among others.
This effort is aligned with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Disarmament Agenda “Securing our Common Future”, Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security.
Raising awareness about the presence and use of firearms in schools and their real and potential impacts, as well as implementing public policies and other joint initiatives to strengthen current efforts in this area, is a key task for the various actors and sectors involved in these issues.
UNLIREC thanks the support of the different governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, and experts who contributed to the data and information in order to develop this study.
This initiative forms part of a larger project on firearms in Latin American and Caribbean schools made possible thanks to the funding provided by the Government of Sweden.
Jul 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
On 4 and 5 June 2020 respectively, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, conducted a second round of basic training on comparison microscopy for forensic ballistics and on an introduction to forensic ballistics for crime scene investigators.
These events sought to improve casework management by reviewing and developing streamlined work processes, case allocation protocols and a National Action Plan (NAP) to manage unprocessed ballistics casework in Trinidad and Tobago. The NAP aims to build capacity in both the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and Forensic Science Centre (TTFSC) by providing introductory training in ballistics for police officers and further integrate the Firearms Technicians at the Firearms Section by building capacity in comparison microscopy.
On 4 June, introductory training and awareness of operational forensic ballistics for police armourers and police officials assigned to the Special Evidence Recovery Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service was delivered remotely to ten participants. The aim of this course was to provide participants, all of whom are new to the discipline, with an understanding of Operational Forensic Ballistics, UNLIREC SOPs on the Collection and Collation of Crime Scene Evidence, Firearms Safety during Forensic Processes and Test Firing Procedures.
Whilst the first round of the basic training on comparison microscopy to firearm technicians at the TTFSC was delivered in person, round two was delivered virtually due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Four firearm technicians and one police armourer participated in the June 5 online training. This entailed an overview of the fundamentals of comparison microscopy and its role in the providing evidence and intelligence to the criminal justice system, the organization and importance of Open Case Files, latest developments and experiences of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) and the fundamentals of class mark databases.
For one week prior to the live online sessions, participants engaged in self-based learning through access to UNLIREC developed pre-recorded materials on the CBSI Connect learning management system.
The Introduction to Forensic Ballistics and Comparison Microscopy training along with CBSI Connect were made possible thanks to the support of the government of the United States of America.
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.
Jun 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
The Permanent Secretaries of National Security from CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic recommended that the newly developed Caribbean Firearms Roadmap be adopted at the ministerial level as a next and final step prior to its implementation. This recommendation was made during a virtual regional encounter, hosted by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), on 17 June 2020. The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs – through its Conventional Arms Branch – and the United State Department of State – through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) – attended the virtual encounter to pledge their support for the implementation of this new initiative. They were joined by other members of the donor community, including Canada, France, The Netherlands and the European Union, all of which welcomed the Roadmap. The CARICOM Secretariat, the Regional Security System, OAS, WCO, Interpol, UNODC and the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) were also in attendance.
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’ consolidates and builds upon the Actions adopted in May 2019 by Caribbean Heads of Governments on addressing the illicit trafficking of firearms in the region. These Actions form the backbone of the Roadmap, arrived at by consensus in 2020 by national Caribbean authorities and other stakeholders, which aims to support Caribbean States in preventing and combating illicit proliferation of firearms and ammunition in the region for a safer Caribbean.
The regional strategy behind the Roadmap is reflected in 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 in alignment with a timeline, which runs from 2020 to 2030, to coincide with the culmination of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Finally, to help States gauge their progress in attaining each of these goals, the Roadmap contains recommended performance indicators.
The successful implementation of the Roadmap will require both the concerted efforts of Caribbean State authorities, as well as the timely, targeted and coordinated support of regional and international partners and donors. Likewise, the Roadmap will be used as a base document for States in the elaboration of their individual State-based National Action Plans (NAPs). These NAPS will map out their national priorities and plans and specific timelines for implementing the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
Finally, the Roadmap is consistent with the Caribbean context and international firearms instruments, as well as with regional strategies, such as the CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy. It is also envisioned to contribute to the attainment of the 2030 Agenda and to its accompanying Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Target 16.4, which aims to significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flow by 2030.
Formal adoption of the Roadmap is expected to take place prior to the end of July 2020. UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS, as the main implementing partners, will lend technical assistance in the elaboration of the NAPs and in their successive implementation.
Feb 28, 2020 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Dominican Republic, carried out an Inter-institutional Roundtable to Enhance Firearms-related Investigations on February 18 and the Ballistic Intelligence Management Course from February 19 to 21. Both activities form part of the ‘Combating Illicit Firearms and Ammunition Trafficking in the Caribbean through Operational Forensic Ballistics’ (OFB) project.
During the Inter-institutional Roundtable to Enhance Firearms-related Investigations, UNLIREC addressed the findings presented in the report from the last Inter-institutional Roundtable Meeting celebrated in July 2019. In addition, National Authorities presented the advances made regarding inter-institutional coordination as well as identified shortcomings that required further collaboration. A total of 16 officials from National Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of the Interior and Police, Special Prosecutor´s Office against Trafficking of Firearms, Ballistic and Biometric Laboratory, National Police, Customs and Ministry of Defense participated in the event.
From 19-21 February, UNLIREC implemented its pilot training course in Ballistic Intelligence Management for the first time in the region at the Institute of Criminology in the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. A total of 23 officials from National Institute of Forensic Sciences, Ministry of the Interior and Police, Special Prosecutor´s Office against Trafficking of Firearms Office, Ballistic and Biometric Laboratory, National Police, Customs and Ministry of Defense participated.
The 3-day training course covered modules on Firearms and Ammunition identification and classification, Chain of Custody, Sources of Ballistic information, Ballistic information management and analysis and Ballistic Intelligence. Lectures included theoretical instruction as well as practical exercises which allowed participants to put into practice the knowledge gained during the training.
Participants highlighted the importance of having specialized and continuous training to improve their ability to carry out firearm- related criminal investigations.
This course was possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
Dec 16, 2019 | Uncategorized
From 18-19 November 2019, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru and with the financial support of the Government of Canada, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) organized the “Workshop on control and security measures of related materials in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004)” addressed to Peruvian institutions that implement said Resolution aimed at preventing non-state actors to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This Seminar was held in Lima, Peru, and delivered by specialists from the 1540 Committee Group of Experts of the UN Security Council, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), the National Police of Colombia and UNLIREC.
During the Seminar the 29 representatives (including 12 women) from several institutions of the Peruvian government carried out a dialogue on the relevance of improving inter-agency coordination and communication to effectively implement UNSC Resolution 1540 at the national level. In addition, the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the national draft Bill of Law on the Biological Weapons and their Destruction, prepared from 2018-2019 with legal support of UNLIREC in the framework of its Resolution 1540 assistance project. In this regard, the participants highlighted the need for continuing inter-institutional meetings to adopt a final version of the said draft Bill of Law.
Experts from the CNS and the National Police of Colombia delivered presentations on key concepts and practices related to biosecurity, biosafety, as well as in chemical and nuclear security and safety in the context of Resolution 1540. The member of the Group of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1540 delivered a presentation on main provisions of said Resolution, including the process to fill the national matrix on the implementation of Resolution 1540. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru informed that it expects to submit its updated national matrix to the 1540 Committee before the end of 2019.
This activity is part of UNLIREC’s Assistance Programme to support the Latin American and Caribbean States in developing disarmament and non-proliferation measures and implementing international instruments in the matter, including Resolution 1540 (2004).
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).
Dec 16, 2019 | Uncategorized
From 4-5 December, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Government of Peru, held a national seminar on ammunition control measures in the city of Lima.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the constant supply, availability, and proliferation of ammunition to all potential violent actors are a sine qua non for having the highest rates of armed violence in the world. Not only are firearms used more frequently in homicides in Latin America and the Caribbean than in other parts of the world, the same applies to ammunition. Stopping the adverse effects of ammunition proliferation on human security and economic and social development is only possible if the States include ammunition in their arms control policies, with the differentiated treatment they require.
During the seminar, international guidelines and recognized regional good practices on conventional ammunition control were presented, which allowed for discussion of relevant challenges and opportunities for national ammunition control and regulation. Moreover, this space allowed national authorities responsible for ammunition control to discuss needs and priorities in relation to the safe and responsible management of ammunition and, if necessary, to open a space for cooperation and mutual coordination.
The Seminar brought together different national institutions responsible for the control, regulation and management of conventional weapons ammunition, such as the National Superintendence of Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC), the Purchasing Agency and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces (ACFFAA), the National Army Ammunition Center (CEMUNE), the Naval Readiness Directorate of the Peruvian Navy, the War Material Service of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), the Army Weapons and Ammunition Factory (FAME), the Department of Arms, Ammunition and Explosives of the Logistics Division and the Ballistics Department of the Peruvian National Police, of the Customs Control Division of the National Superintendence of Tax Administration (SUNAT). International experts from the Ministry of the Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic and the Federal Police of Brazil also participated.
The implementation of this project is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
