Guatemala strengthens its ability to implement the Arms Trade Treaty

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues to support States in the region to implement the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). On 13 October, UNLIREC and Guatemala’s Ministry of National Defence, inaugurated UNLIREC’s Arms Trade Treaty Implementation Course in Guatemala City.

The 29 participants from 8 different institutions, increased their knowledge on the classification of conventional arms, identification of trends in the arms trade, and on national control systems of exportation and importation. Following the theoretical part of the course, an interactive practical exercise was conducted on arms transfer assessments in the regional context. During this activity, a model end-user certificate was presented to participants, which succeeds at standardizing international best practices to reduce the risk of arms, ammunition, parts and components being diverted to illicit channels. The course was imparted by UNLIREC experts in collaboration with the DIGECAM legal department, which shared its national experiences.

The four-day course aims to provide States with sufficient tools to ensure the effective implementation of the Treaty so that adequate control mechanisms can be established for all international transfers of arms, ammunition and their parts and components in order to avoid their illegal diversion and their use in criminal activities.

Thanks to the financial support from donors, the course and instruction materials are available to all ratifying States in Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, 16 countries in the region have ratified the Treaty, which entered into force 24 December 2014: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Costa Rica, Dominica, La República Dominicana, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, México, Panamá, Paraguay, Santa Lucia, San Cristóbal y Nieves, San Vicente y las Granadinas, Trinidad y Tobago, y Uruguay.

For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).