Jul 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) supported the largest destruction of firearms in the history of Peru. The National Regulatory Entity for Security Service, Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC) undertook the destruction of nearly ten thousand firearms in the steel company SiderPeru on 7 July 2016. UNLIREC provided technical assistance and accompaniment to this activity, which took place within the framework of the global initiative that commemorates International Gun Destruction Day on 9 July by the United Nations.
The UN, with years of accumulated experience in combating illicit arms trafficking, has concluded that the periodic destruction of weapons is the most effective way to ensure that weapons do not return to illegality and are not used to put innocent lives and the security of communities at risk. Destruction is irreversible and thus clearly contributes to the prevention and reduction of armed violence and therefore the strengthening of citizen security. In carrying out weapons destruction processes, the state sends a clear message to its citizens about its commitment to arms control.
After an exhaustive process of documentation, monitoring and verification, weapons were destroyed by smelting in the Sider Perú industrial complex in the city of Chimbote. UNLIREC accompanied the process and ensured that international arms control standards were applied in accordance with international commitments made by Peru.
Among the destroyed weapons were revolvers, pistols, shotguns, rifles and craft weapons from different regions of the country. The majority of the destroyed weapons had been seized by the Peruvian National Police in various unlawful acts and all judicial proceedings had been concluded.
Since 2002, UNLIREC has supported the Government of Peru in various weapons destruction processes and has provided transparency and technical assistance to these activities.
Source: UNLIREC
Jun 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), within the framework of the United Nations Joint Programme entitled “Strengthening Human Security and Community Resilience by Fostering the Promotion of Peaceful Coexistence in Peru”, participated in the verification and monitoring process of more than 1,200 firearms. This process was carried out in collaboration with the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC) and concluded, on 6 July, with a public event at the police station in the centre of Trujillo, a northern Peruvian city suffering from elevated levels of armed violence.
This is the second firearms destruction carried out in Trujillo with the technical support of the United Nations, which coincided with the UN International Day of Firearms Destruction being celebrated later that week (9 July). Regional, local, and district authorities attended the ceremony to observe the symbolic cutting of the firearms confiscated by the Peruvian National Police rendering them inoperable until final destruction the next day at a steel company in Chimbote, Peru. The confiscated firearms included revolvers, pistols, shotguns, carbines, homemade weapons and rifles.
UNLIREC participated in the entire destruction process, from the planning stage, training, registration, monitoring, and verification of weapons to the final act of destruction.
Firearms destruction is one of the most effective means of improving citizen security, as it allows States to rid of surplus, obsolete, confiscated weapons or those surrendered by civilians, thus reducing the possibilities of their proliferation and misuse.
Feb 9, 2015 | Uncategorized
With the assistance of the UN Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), Peruvian authorities destroyed over 2,000 small arms in the northern city of Trujillo, capital of La Libertad Region in Peru, on 1 September 2015. This event forms part of the UN Joint Programme aimed at strengthening human security and community resilience by fostering peaceful co-existence in Peru, as well as part of the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC)’s awareness campaign on the risks of the indiscriminate use of small arms.
The 2,000 small arms destroyed originated in large part from weapons confiscated by the Peruvian National Police (PNP). The official destruction ceremony started with the ‘cutting’ of the weapons to render them inoperable, while they await final destruction via ‘smelting’ at an iron and steel factory.
According to the Director of UNLIREC, Ms. Mélanie Régimbal, “if each weapon has the potential to kill, injure or threaten someone, then this process of destruction has a clear impact on public security because it prevents dozens of small arms-related crimes from being committed”. Ms Régimbal went on to affirm that “the destruction of small arms is one more step in preventing and reducing armed violence in La Libertad.”
The UN Joint Programme supports the authorities of La Libertad and Trujillo, as well as the local authorities of El Porvenir, La Esperanza and Florencia de Mora, communities highly affected by violence and crime, in improving human security throughout the northern region. The Inter-agency programme’s activities include comprehensive initiatives in the areas of health, recreation, public security, justice services, and community strengthening.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at (cowl@unlirec.org).
Mar 2, 2014 | Uncategorized
Following the donation of a set of hydraulic shears, for the destruction of small arms and a Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT) to the Government of Guyana by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) in January 2014, UNLIREC experts assisted the Government from 3-14 February in destroying over 4,000 surplus and obsolete weapons and almost 3 tonnes of small arms ammunition.
UNLIREC’s technical assistance included hands-on training of officials from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force responsible for leading the destruction efforts. The trainings included the use and maintenance of destruction equipment, as well as technical know-how on managing stockpiles and destroying weapons according to internationally-accepted best practices and guidelines. This combined assistance ensures that permanent indigenous capacity is installed for future and regular destruction of weapons and ammunition. The periodic destruction of weapons and ammunition constitutes one of the most effective means of preventing diversion and ensuring that these weapons do not find their way into illicit activities and criminal networks.
The donation of this equipment and the support for destruction forms part of a wider UNLIREC programme for weapons destruction and stockpile management support to Caribbean States aimed at combating illicit trafficking by reducing the risk of theft and diversion from government holdings of small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives. The activities carried out were made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC will continue to support the Government of Guyana in a variety of areas, including stockpile management, training and capacity-building and legal and policy review.
UNLIREC serves 33 countries in the region in assisting them in the development of disarmament policies and the implementation of international disarmament instruments, most notably the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit its web page [www.unlirec.com]. For any questions, contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at [cowl@unlirec.org].
Jan 23, 2014 | Uncategorized
On 23 January 2014, UNLIREC officially handed over a set of hydraulic shears to the Government of Guyana for the destruction of small arms and a Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT) for the destruction of small arms ammunition and explosives. Both of these pieces of equipment were provided to Guyana with a view to ensuring permanent indigenous capacity for regular destruction of weapons and ammunition.
The handover ceremony, held at Eve Leary Police Barracks in Georgetown, included attendance by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee; Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips; United States Ambassador to Guyana, Mr Brent Hardt; Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell.
Prior to the official handover of equipment, 25 persons from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were trained in the maintenance and operation of the hydraulic shears resulting in the destruction of 700 surplus and obsolete firearms.
These specialized destruction tools complement the delivery of 40 padlocks and hasps also provided by UNLIREC to national authorities for enhancing the security of strategic stockpile facilities, thus contributing to preventing theft, loss and diversion of firearms and ammunition to illicit actors. Both sets of equipment will bolster Guyana’s ability to combat illicit trafficking in firearms and reduce and prevent armed violence.
UNLIREC will be returning to Guyana in early February 2014 to conduct training sessions on the use of the SAABT and to support further destruction of surplus, obsolete and seized weapons, ammunition and explosives.
The donation of this equipment and technical assistance forms part of a wider UNLIREC programme for firearms destruction and stockpile management support to Caribbean States aimed at combating illicit trafficking by reducing the risk of theft and diversion from government holdings of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The activities carried out were made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
UNLIREC, as the regional office of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support Member States in the region in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, including the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit its web page [www.unlirec.com]. For any questions, contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at [cowl@unlirec.org].
