Aug 6, 2017 | Uncategorized
As part of its contribution to the Joint United Nations Programme entitled “Strengthening Human Security and Community Resilience by Fostering Peaceful Coexistence in Peru”, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) conducted a seminar on public policies for the prevention and reduction of gun violence in Trujillo City on June 8, 2017.
The seminar took place on the occasion of the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence, which took place from 5-12 June 2017 with the theme “The Road to Development and Peace Begins with Silencing the Guns”. With a view to creating visibility for this global campaign, UNLIREC provided a space for the various sectors of municipal and district governments, as well as community leaders and organisational networks within civil society to reflect on and discuss gun violence and its effects on society.
During the event, participants presented and discussed comprehensive measures and citizen security policies aimed at preventing and reducing gun violence as a shared responsibility between different sectors and stakeholders. The various institutions of the State with responsibilities in the matter made known their policies and axes of intervention, generating a broad debate on effective mechanisms to reduce gun violence from a comprehensive and multisectoral perspective.
Special attention was given to preventative measures aimed at young people, such as accessibility to public spaces for sport and recreational activities, as well as the concept of community policing as a means of reducing violence and crime in vulnerable areas.
UNLIREC is part of the UN Joint Programme on Human Security which works with public institutions and local authorities in Trujillo to reduce and prevent crime in general, gender violence and the involvement of adolescents in criminal activities.
Jul 24, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 24 July 2017, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) co-hosted a UNSCR 1540 National Roundtable Workshop with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda.
The event brought together representatives from a broad range of national authorities including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Legal Affairs; Trade and Commerce, Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy; Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board; Analytical Services; Customs; and the Antigua and Barbuda Police and Defence Forces. Additionally, the workshop was attended by VERTIC, Stimson Centre and CARICOM’s 1540 Regional Implementation Coordinator.
The roundtable provided a forum for delivery of the findings and recommendations of UNLIREC’s National Legal Study of Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic legislative framework, as well as to introduce the national action plan concept within the Antiguan context. Dialogue exchanges were fruitful, lively and demonstrative of the strong commitment and will of the agencies and institutions around the table to continue strengthening measures and adopting effective mechanisms to combat WMD proliferation.
UNLIREC look forward to returning to St John’s in the near future to continue working with national authorities in the identification of national priorities associated with the implementation of UNSCR 1540. This collaborative event is financed in its entirety by the Government of Canada and forms part of a wider UNLIREC Programme aimed at supporting State implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004).
Jul 21, 2017 | Uncategorized
Latin America and the Caribbean have, in general terms, experienced a dramatic increase in armed violence in recent years, driven in large part by the illicit trafficking of firearms, its parts/components, and ammunition. Public policies against illicit arms trafficking in Latin America and the Caribbean have led to an increased use of X-ray technology for the screening of postal shipments. Thus, states have called on the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) to provide specialized interdiction tools and X-ray screening training to help combat illicit arms trade by developing a Course for Interdicting Small Arms in Postal Shipments (ISA PS). The project’s main goal is to boost the capacity of Latin American and Caribbean states to reduce the distribution of illicit arms and their parts/components via postal shipments.
Crucial milestones of the project were the development of an Arms, Ammunition, Parts and Components Identification Guide in collaboration between UNLIREC and CASRA, and a pilot course and study in Costa Rica.
For more information related to this capacity building initiative, please see Newsletter Issue 16 of the Center for Adaptive Security Research and Applications (CASRA) at https://www.casra.ch/en/about-us/casra-newsletter.html
Source: CASRA: https://www.casra.ch/en/about-us/casra-news
Jul 16, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV) have been developing the regional Project entitled Youth volunteerism for Peacebuilding and Disarmament: Youth Measuring Security in the Communities through Participatory Indicators in Peru, Colombia, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago. The objective of the project is to implement the 2030 Agenda, to increase the competencies of volunteer leaders with respect to SDG 16, youth, peace, security, disarmament and volunteering. It also seeks to develop indicators to measure the perception of violence and security in their communities through a participatory methodology and the promotion of the role of youth as a relevant player in promoting peace.
Four workshops were held in the city of Trujillo, Peru, under the theme of Youth, Peace and Disarmament, within the framework of the activities of the Joint United Nations Human Security Programme, which has been carrying out various activities in Trujillo since 2014.One hundred and twenty volunteers from various organisations participated on the 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th of July in sessions that were facilitated by UNLIREC and UNV. In addition, it involved the participation of young volunteers who were part of the alliance with the Cultural Association D1 which promotes thee culture of peace through art, dance and human development. The four workshops addressed the different dimensions of the concepts of violence, peace, human security and disarmament. Likewise, practical tools were shared to convert their perceptions of these phenomena into valid indicators for their measurement.
The workshops are part of a series of activities that will take place over 6 months in all four countries. During this time, participatory indicators for SDG 16 will not only be generated but will also be validated by young people in their communities and presented to local and regional government authorities. In this way, young people will be trained and empowered, making visible their role as promoters of the creation of a just, peaceful and inclusive society.
Jul 6, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) conducted a training workshop in Lima, Peru, from June 7-8, 2017 as part of a joint project with the United Nations Volunteers Program (UNV). Colombia, Honduras, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago will be the four countries from the region to benefit from this initiative.
The purpose of this project is to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and to improve the skills of young volunteer leaders with regards to SDG 16, peace, security and disarmament so that they may be able to propose indicators (developed through participatory methodology) to measure these phenomena. SDG 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice for all, and the creation of effective and accountable institutions at all levels. It includes targets for reducing illicit arms flows, all forms of violence and related deaths, and ensuring participatory decision-making. Specifically, goal 16.4 establishes the intrinsic relationship between development and flows of illicit arms.
Participating in the workshop were young volunteers who will serve as focal points in three of the four beneficiary countries, namely, Colombia, Honduras and Peru. The sessions were facilitated by UNLIREC and the UNV Regional Office, along with the invaluable contribution of two young specialists in the creation of volunteer infrastructures and the management of training programs.
The workshop marks the official launch of the project whose activities will continue until December 2017 in the four countries. During this time, not only will participatory indicators for SDG 16 be developed, but these will be validated by the youth in their communities and presented to the main local and regional government authorities with the aim of giving greater visibility and recognition to the role the youth can play in the promotion of more peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
Jul 3, 2017 | Uncategorized
On 7 March, UNLIREC held consultations with the Government of Peru to elaborate its Draft National Action Plan on implementation of UNSCR 1540 (2004). This meeting brought together 19 representatives from nine institutions and agencies, including Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Production, National Police, Customs & Excise National Agency and Fire Department, among others.
During the one-day workshop, the group discussed the content of a Voluntary National Action Plan that is to be submitted to the 1540 Committee in the near future. UNLIREC seized the opportunity to provide support in the process of identifying needs, priorities and next steps to articulate national efforts towards UNSCR 1540 implementation. In particular, issues relating to the modernization of non-proliferation legislation, including in the biological ambit, and institutional strengthening and training needs were pointed out by authorities as essential areas to be addressed.
Prior to this workshop, in November 2016, UNLIREC presented its national legal study and its main recommendations to Peruvian authorities for better aligning 1540 obligations with national provisions.
This meeting forms part of the Canadian funded portion of UNLIREC’s 1540 Assistance Package.
