GenerAcción Paz: building dreams, disarming violence

Dec 5, 2024 | Uncategorized

The United Nations Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) launches the first edition of the GenerAcción Paz programme, which aspires to empower Latin American and Caribbean youth to create a region free of armed violence. The application process isopen from April 24 to May 31.

The call is aimed at young Spanish speakers between the ages of 18 and 29 at the time of participating in the programme (born between March 31, 1995 and July 1, 2006) living in Latin America and the Caribbean. Young people of various profiles and fields are invited to apply. 10 standout participants will be selected on the basis of their active participation in youth networks or associations, their organizational and leadership skills, as well as their interests and initiatives to promote a region free of armed violence.

The application process consists of two phases. Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications until 31 May, and send their CV to the link provided in the form. Shortlisted candidates will be notified on June 21 with instructions on the second phase, which will have to be completed by June 30. The ten selected candidates will be notified on July 8.

The programme, which will span a nine-month period from July 2024 to March 2025, counts with a regional focus and three main stages:

Online training (July to November 2024): participants will be able to interact through a series of webinars with high-level regional arms control experts. Different topics will be discussed: illicit trafficking of weapons and new technologies, gender impact of armed violence, weapons in schools, and the relationship between disarmament and development. Project management training workshops will also be organized.
Sponsored study visit to Lima, Peru (end of November 2024).
Project implementation (December 2024 to April 2025): in the third phase, participants will developand implementpersonalprojects in their local or national contexts, with personalized support from UNLIREC and selected mentors.

The GenerAcción Paz programme contributes to the implementation of the General Assembly resolutions on Youth, Peace and Disarmament as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project is financed by funds from the United Nations Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR).

All questions may be directed to youth@unlirec.org.

4th Annual Meeting of States of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap

Nov 12, 2024 | Uncategorized

From 13 to 14 November 2024, officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic will gather virtually for the 4th Annual Meeting of States of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.

States, together with partners and donors from the international community, will meet virtually to discuss the implementation of the Roadmap and renew their commitment to addressing illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking.

The meeting is organized by the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC).

The meeting, which is funded by Germany, envisages a high-level meeting of Ministers on 13 November as well as a one-day working level exchange between national focal points established under the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap on 14 November.

For further information please contact secretary@unlirec.org.

Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast

Nov 8, 2024 | Uncategorized

UNLIREC launches Women, Forces of Change: The Podcast, celebrating the voices of women leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean working in disarmament and security.

Over 10 episodes released between 8 November and 8 December 2024, diplomats, experts, and changemakers share their journeys, challenges, and visions for a safer, more inclusive world.

Episodes are available below and on Spotify, with conversations in English, Spanish, and French.

Discover how women are driving change in peace and security!

“Women, Forces for Change: The Podcast” is funded by Canada

Episode 1: Carina Solmirano

[Available in Spanish] Starting 1 December 2024, Carina Solmirano will assume the role of Head of the Secretariat of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), following her selection at the Tenth Conference of States Parties in August 2024, becoming the first Argentinian and Latin American woman to assume this responsibility. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of disarmament, peace and international security.

In this episode of “Women, Forces of Change. The Podcast”, Carina Solmirano shares how her path has led her to work for justice and human rights, always with a humanitarian approach.

Episode 2: Nadine Bushell

Nadine Bushell is a leader in security and development, currently serving as the Acting Assistant Director of Projects at the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). With a wealth of experience in both government and international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she leverages her expertise to advance initiatives aimed at building a safer and more secure Caribbean region.

In this episode, Nadine Bushell shares her journey, from her early aspirations to pursue a career in law to her deep commitment to social development, specifically in the field of the security.

Episode 3: Clarissa Ríos

[Available in Spanish] Clarissa Rios is a scientist and global disarmament leader from Peru. With a PhD in molecular biology, Clarissa Rios works at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, focusing on preventing the use of biological weapons and promoting peace.

In this episode, she shares how her love of biology began and how the understanding of the impact of science on global security inspired her to work for peace.

Episode 4: Tamika Henry

Tamika Henry is a former Forensic Technologist with the Guyana Police Force and Senior Science Officer at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory. Currently, she supports the OPCW Technical Secretariat in advancing the global implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

In this episode, Tamika Henry shares how her passion for conflict resolution and the application of science led her to work towards enhancing security.

Episode 5: Constanza Bucarey

[Available in Spanish] Constanza Bucarey is a leading Chilean professional with over 16 years of experience in customs risk management, border security and strategic trade control in Latin America.

Her message to young women: “Be confident in your role, dare to explore male-dominated fields. You will encounter challenges, but also people who will support you.”

Episode 6: Kettly Julien

[Available in French] Kettly Julien is the Executive Director of the Institut Mobile d’Éducation Démocratique (IMED) and active member of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (CNDDR) of Haiti.

In this episode, she tells us how she has overcome challenges since her childhood and turned her fears into strengths to fight for social justice and human rights. She also shares how her work has contributed to the pacification of communities in Haití.

“Haitian society is patriarchal, and women face great obstacles, but we must fight for equality, shoulder to shoulder with men, without sexism.”

Episode 7: Juliana Aguiar

[Available in Spanish] Juliana Aguiar, Brazilian journalist and human rights defender, shares with us her valuable testimony and her tireless work to give visibility to voices that have historically been silenced.

In this episode, Juliana Aguiar tells us how her interest in human rights led her to work at the Fogo Cruzado Institute, where she monitors violence in more than 50 Brazilian cities making visible the violence and gun policies that affect so many women.

Episode 8: Mayda de León

[Available in Spanish] Mayda De León is well known for her work on prevention of violence and arms control. With more than 20 years of experience, Mayda shares with us her journey, her commitment to human rights and her current leadership role as Vice Minister of Violence and Crime Prevention in Guatemala.

In this episode, Mayda De León tells us how, from a young age, she became interested in issues of justice, human rights and later in security, a field in which women were beginning to make their presence felt but which was still dominated by men.

“We women are powerful, and we are truly Forces of Change”, is Mayda’s message to the new generations of women in security.

Episode 9: Ana Pamela Romero

[Available in Spanish] Ana Pamela Romero, a Juris doctor and criminalistics expert from Mexico. Over the past 16 years she has held several positions as a researcher, professor and, currently, national director of the Law Program at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Since 2014, she has worked as an expert consultant for UNLIREC in legal, forensic and gender perspective in the investigation of firearms crimes.

In this episode, she tells us about the path that led her from the field of justice to the field of peace and disarmament; in her own words, “we cannot think of justice without peace or peace without justice”.

Episode 10: Elizabeth Ward

Dr. Elizabeth Ward, a medical epidemiologist with more than 15 years of experience in violence prevention. She established the Jamaica Injury Surveillance System (JISS), which collects critical data on gunshot wounds and supports multi-agency efforts to reduce violent crime. Dr. Ward works with organizations such as WHO, PAHO, and UNICEF, focusing on strategies to address violence against children.

In this episode, she shares her interest and expertise in safety and highlights the essential role of women in driving change. “I’ve seen in hospitals that gun violence can be prevented,” she points out.

Episode 11: Bonus

We’re celebrating the fourteenth anniversary of the adoption of the UN resolution on women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control with a special episode featuring Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN, and Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN, who, together with Soledad Urruela, Director of UNLIREC, share with us their own experiences and encouraging messages to young women.

Music and Visual Art for Change

Sep 18, 2024 | Uncategorized

In an effort to take a stand against firearm violence in Jamaican schools, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) have launched a competition entitled “Music and Visual Art for Change: Preventing Firearm Violence in Schools”. This initiative invites students ages 12 to 19 across Jamaica to use their artistic and musical talents to convey the powerful message of peace and firearm violence prevention.

The “Music and Visual Art for Change” competition seeks to harness the transformative power of music and art to address and prevent firearms possession and violence in schools. By encouraging Jamaican youth to create art and music that promote peace, this initiative aspires to shape a positive narrative that stands against the normalization of firearm violence.

The competition seeks to emphasize that firearms are not symbols of power or strength. True strength is found in standing firm in one’s values, prompting peace, unity, and positive change, including through creative self-expression. Respect is earned through kindness and establishing non-violent conflict resolution in communities, while cultivating positive influences. By embracing these principles, the initiative aims to support and inspire the younger generation to reject violence and build safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

How to Participate

Jamaican students, ages 12 to 19, can submit their artistic creations, including paintings, drawings, graphic designs, photographs or musical/spoken word compositions – including poems or short prose monologues – at www.unlirec.org/music-art by 31 October 2024. Entries should reflect the core message of non-violence and peace, promoting the prevention of the possession of firearms and their use in schools.

The competition opens 18 September 2024 and will run until 8PM (GMT-5) on 31 October 2024.

Entries will be reviewed between 01 November 2024 to 10 November 2024, and the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite submissions via social media.

Finalists will be announced on 11 November 2024.

The competition will culminate with an event held in Kingston, Jamaica, during the month of November, which will showcase the submissions of the finalists and will be followed by an award ceremony to announce the winners of the competition.

Eligibility criteria

High school students aged 12-19
Living in Jamaica
Interested in visual arts (painting, photography, drawing, graphic design) or music
Ready to inspire others to shift away from guns

“Music and Visual Art for Change: Preventing Firearms Violence in Schools” is part of the activities carried out by the United Nations and Jamaican authorities under the Saving Lives Entity (SALIENT) fund initiative in Jamaica. This initiative seeks to tackle armed violence in Jamaica as part of a comprehensive approach to sustainable security and development.

This competition supports the implementation of the Youth, Peace, Security agenda; the United Nations General Assembly resolutions on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation, as well as; the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) plays a vital role in advancing arms control, fostering peace, and supporting sustainable development across the region.

The Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) is committed to improving educational outcomes and the well-being of students across Jamaica.

Follow UNLIREC´s and MOEY´s social media accounts for updates and announcements: @unlirec_official, @moeyjamaica, @unjamaica.

Help us spread the word about this important initiative by sharing this opportunity with your friends, family, and colleagues! Together, we can create a safer future, free from firearm violence, in Jamaica.

For more information, please email music-art@unlirec.org.

Informal Regional Meeting on the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management

May 20, 2024 | Uncategorized

Lima, Peru, 20-21 May 2024 – Representatives from Latin American and Caribbean States, UN entities, and regional and non-governmental organizations gather to discuss the implementation of the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management.