Aug 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
On 13 August 2012, The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Security of the Republic of Argentina to provide technical assistance in the area of small arms, light weapons and ammunition stockpile management. This agreement is signed within the broader framework of the joint Ministry of Security/United Nations Development Programme project for Capacity Building for the Planning of Citizen Security Policies.
Efforts to build government officials’ stockpile management capacities and improve infrastructure of facilities where weapons, ammunition and explosives are stored are essential measures for preventing theft, loss and diversion as well as preventing accidents. UNLIREC assistance will entail undertaking collaborative stockpile management baseline assessments with officials from the Ministry of Security and federal security forces and developing action plans to ensure facilities and practices are in line with the draft UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The cooperation between UNLIREC and the Ministry of Security began with an introductory workshop for national authorities in Buenos Aires on 13 August.
Since 2004, UNLIREC has provided stockpile management and destruction assistance to fourteen Latin American and Caribbean member states through assessment, capacity building and the provision of equipment resulting in the destruction of more than 475,000 surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons and 600,000 rounds of ammunition. The implementation of stockpile management and destruction measures are key commitments taken on by states within the framework of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
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].
Aug 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 8–12 October 2012, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs – through its Regional Disarmament Centre (UNLIREC) – assisted the Government of St. Lucia in the destruction of nearly 380 surplus, obsolete and confiscated firearms and close to 16,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. The periodic destruction of weapons and ammunition is the most effective means of ensuring that they do not make their way back onto the streets and/or be diverted to criminal networks. Both weapons and ammunition destruction were undertaken using the UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
All 380 weapons were cut using a set of hydraulic shears donated by UNLIREC to the Government of St. Lucia in May 2012, which included the training of 10 members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) on its use and maintenance. The ammunition destruction took place at Vieux Fort using a field expedient disposal method. An additional 10 members of the RSLPF were also trained on the safe logistic destruction of ammunition according to the IATG. Both destruction processes included independent monitoring by UNLIREC personnel.
The destruction activities were made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement and form part of a broader UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, which began in 2010, and has been carried out in nine Caribbean countries with the support of the United States and Canada. Since June 2010, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of St. Lucia in the development of a National Action Plan on Stockpile Management and Firearms Destruction, securing stockpile facilities through the provision of international standard padlocks, and training of law enforcement officials in the fight against illicit firearms trafficking.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serves over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms.
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)
Aug 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
Subsequent to the reactivation of the firearms technical working group in El Salvador and continuing with the implementation of UNLIREC´s assistance package for Central American States, UNLIREC collaborated with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in carrying out a set of activities aimed at enhancing public security and preventing armed violence through the combat of illicit firearms trafficking. This entailed enhancing the capacity of legal practitioners in reducing impunity in firearms-related cases and raising awareness among decision-makers and parliamentarian advisers on firearms policy development.
The first activity offered focused training to 33 legal practitioners and judicial officials on relevant national and international legal frameworks, inter-institutional and international cooperation mechanisms, and technical aspects of firearms and ammunition, including ballistic information through UNLIREC’s four-day Specialized Training Course beginning on 8 October. Participants from a variety of governmental institution, including the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the National Police now have at their disposal improved technical tools and practical knowledge to assist them in their efforts to more effectively combat the scourge caused by illicit firearms trafficking.
While the one-day national seminar – undertaken on 10 October – brought together 23 members of the firearms technical working group and advisors of the Defense and Security Commission of the National Congress to expose them to a wide range of disarmament policies and legal measures related to arms control and armed violence reduction.
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)
Jul 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 24 – 29 June 2012 the United Nations Office for Disarmament’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GoTT) in the destruction of 1,131 surplus and obsolete small arms, including semi-automatic machine guns, pistols and revolvers. The weapons were destroyed at the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) Teteron Barracks using a combination of hydraulic shears and disc saws provided to the Government by UNLIREC. The destruction process included independent monitoring and verification undertaken by UNLIREC personnel.
A ceremonial destruction and closing ceremony took place on 29 June at the Teteron Barracks. During the ceremony, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj; Heads of Divisions; and members of the diplomatic community were addressed by Lt Col. Darnley Wyke of the TTDF; Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security, Dr Wendy Quamina-Yorke; and UNLIREC Senior Programme Officer, Ms Juliet Solomon.
The destruction activities are made possible with the financial support of the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement. These activities form part of UNLIREC´s Caribbean Assistance Programme, launched in Kingston, Jamaica in April 2010, and carried out in eight Caribbean countries with the financial support of Canada and the USA. Since October 2011, UNLIREC has assisted the GoTT in the destruction of 2,286 surplus, obsolete and confiscated small arms, more than five tonnes of small arms ammunition and has provided equipment and training in order to guarantee permanent national capacity for weapons and ammunition destruction.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serve over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
The destruction of firearms and ammunition in cooperation with the GoTT is part of joint efforts to combat illicit trafficking in firearms, strengthen the capacity of the country’s security forces and reduce armed violence throughout the country.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer [cowl@unlirec.org].
Jul 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
On 16 July, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), launched its Central America Assistance Package in El Salvador undertaking three activities in San Salvador: Inter-Institutional Training Course on Combating the Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives – IITC (17-26 July); Technical Seminar on Stockpile Management International Standards; and Legal Seminar on Small Arms and Light Weapons Control (20 July). This assistance package is funded by the government of Germany and Finland.
UNLIREC’s award-winning IITC course trained 63 security sector personnel from various law enforcement and judicial entities. Participants received focused training from international and regional experts on illicit SALW investigation and tracing techniques, technical aspects of SALW and ammunition identification, international and national legal frameworks, intelligence gathering and SALW and ammunition evidence management. Implementing partners addressed a series of cross–cutting issues related to the use of force, the impact of armed violence on youth and women, and child protection.
In parallel, UNLIREC trained 25 law enforcement personnel – responsible for managing firearms and ammunition depots and storage units – in stockpile management international standards, based on the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).
Additionally, UNLIREC presented a legal study on El Salvador’s firearms legislation providing a series of recommendations to strengthen legal control over firearms in the country in line with international and regional agreements. Legal experts from Guatemala and Nicaragua shared their national experiences with a view to providing different elements to enhance national firearms control in El Salvador.
UNLIREC’s assistance strengthens State capacities to implement relevant international and regional disarmament instruments, such as the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN 2011 PoA).
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer [cowl@unlirec.org].
Jul 3, 2012 | Uncategorized
(Venezuela) – On 7 March, at the request of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela, the Regional Centre emitted legal opinions on the State’s draft bill of law related to firearms. This legal assistance assessed the level of compatibility between the proposed bill and the obligations found under the various firearms-related international instruments, including the UN 2001 PoA, International Tracing Instrument, CIFTA Convention, and the UN Firearms Protocol. Moreover, the Centre provided a series of recommendations on how to make this draft legislation more consistent with global and regional legal instruments. By working hand-in-hand with States to revise national firearms legislation, UNLIREC is able to help them build more robust legal frameworks with a view to identifying and addressing legal gaps in legislation and thus avoiding impunity in cases related to illicit firearms trafficking.
This legal assistance to Venezuela complements the support provided to other States in the region, representing the fourth of its kind in the last 18 months.
