Between 12 and 13 December 2023, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) conducted a technical assessment of two Haitian National Police armouries in Port-au-Prince.
Reinforcing the physical security and stockpile management of its national stocks is one of the priorities identified by Haiti in its National Action Plan adopted in the framework of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, and UNLIREC is supporting the country in these efforts.
The overarching goal of this initiative is to enhance the physical security and stockpile management practices within Haiti, by reducing the risk of accidents and of diversion of firearms, ammunition and explosives from government stockpiles into illicit markets.
During the assessment, UNLIREC’s technical expert reviewed weapons and ammunition management practices and provided recommendations for the Haitian National Police , in accordance with international guidelines approved by the United Nations, such as the Modular Implementation Compendium for Arms Control (MOSAIC) and the International Technical Guidelines on Ammunition (IATG). The assessment was organised in close coordination with the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and a UNPOL officer specialised in weapons and ammunition management in Haiti also took part in the assessment.
In addition to the technical visits, UNLIREC also met with government representatives to present preliminary findings from the visit and to coordinate future activities in line with the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and Haiti’s National Action Plan to reduce illicit firearms trafficking.
As the regional centre of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNLIREC remains steadfast in its mission to promote practical disarmament in this region. This initiative reflects the centre’s dedication to supporting Member States in the effective implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular the 2001 UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.
This assistance was made possible with the generous financial support of the government of the United States of America.