Dec 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
(Peru, Dec. 17) – UNLIREC supported the National Regulatory Entity for Security Services, Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC) in the destruction of over 3,000 firearms via smelting at the Funvesa foundry in the Andean country’s capital of Lima. The destruction event was attended by numerous high-level officials, including the Peruvian Minister of Interior, Walter Alban; Director General of Peru’s National Police, General Jorge Flores; the Superintendent of SUCAMEC, Derik Latorre; and the Director of UNLIREC, Melanie Régimbal.
During her speech, Ms. Régimbal highlighted the fact that “[…] the destruction of weapons is considered one of the most effective disarmament and arms control measures, which allows States to definitively do away with obsolete and seized weapons, and those handed over by civilians, ensuring that they will no longer be used to commit future acts of crime.”
UNLIREC served as an independent observer both prior to and during the destruction process. In this role, the Regional Centre monitored and conducted on site verification of the serial numbers of over 800 weapons, which is equivalent to roughly 30% of all weapons destroyed. The act of monitoring and verification aims to demonstrate transparency throughout the process and certify that it was conducted in accordance with internationally-accepted standards for weapons destruction.
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].
Oct 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 10 – 14 June 2013, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affair’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Government of Guyana conducted a joint national baseline assessment on capacities and needs in the area of stockpile management and destruction. This mission is the first step in the formulation of a national action plan (NAP) for weapons and ammunition destruction to be jointly implemented by UNLIREC and the Government.
The draft NAP will include recommendations for assistance in the areas of stockpile management, firearms and ammunition destruction; legal and policy review and development; and training and capacity-building of law enforcement officials, including Guyanese participation in a Caribbean Regional Armoury Management Training Course. The assistance provided by UNLIREC will contribute to the combat of illicit trafficking of firearms, ammunition and explosives and thus to greater security in Guyana and in the region. UNLIREC assistance to the Government of Guyana is made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of State.
UNLIREC, the regional arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is based in Lima, Peru and serves 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A key element of UNLIREC’s mandate is to assist States in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the 2001 UN 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].
Oct 5, 2013 | Uncategorized
A series of destruction initiatives in the Dominican Republic resulted in over 30,000 firearms and 30 tonnes of ammunition being destroyed in a collaborative effort between the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic (MAF-DR). These achievements demonstrate the success in the implementation of a National Action Plan for Stockpile Management and Firearms and Ammunition Destruction – jointly developed by UNLIREC and MAF-DR in 2010 – thanks to a grant provided by the Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement at the U.S. Department of State.
Since 2010, UNLIREC has provided the Dominican Republic with pioneering destruction equipment and technical know-how on managing stockpiles and destroying weapons according to internationally-accepted best practices and guidelines. By providing the Dominican Republic with permanent technical and human resource capacity as well as infrastructure, this Caribbean State advances one step further toward independent stockpile management and destruction measures plus avoidance of possible weapons re-entry into illicit trafficking rings.
When asked to comment on the impact of the destruction measures, Mélanie Régimbal, Director of UNLIREC, commented that “if each firearm and bullet destroyed in the Dominican Republic represents the potential to kill, hurt or threaten someone, then the United Nations, together with the MAF-DR, have contributed to preventing tens of thousands of gun-related crimes”. Régimbal praised the pro-active participation by two female officials from the munitions depot in their role as technical team leaders in the final phase of the destruction process giving life to UN General Assembly resolution 65/69 on “women, disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control”.
Over the last 3 years, UNLIREC has also helped to enhance the security of 40 weapons and ammunition stockpile facilities belonging to the Dominican Army, Navy and Air Force. UNLIREC trained over 50 officials in stockpile management and in destruction standards and operations. The next phase of UNLIREC assistance to the Dominican Republic, to begin in July 2013, will include specialized training of judges and prosecutors to reduce impunity in cases of illicit firearms and ammunition trafficking.
UNLIREC, the regional arm of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, based in Lima, Peru, assists 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in their implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes and instruments, such as 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).
Jun 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
On 02 August 2013, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) officially handed over to the Government of Suriname a set of hydraulic shears, 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 Suriname with a view to ensure permanent indigenous capacity for regular destruction of weapons and ammunition.
From 31 July to 02 August, 27 persons from the Security Assistance Department (BBS), Suriname Armed Forces (SAF), Police (KPS), Customs and Prisons (DZ) were trained in the maintenance and operation of the hydraulic shears, resulting in the destruction of more than 50 surplus and obsolete firearms, parts and components.
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 Suriname’s ability to combat illicit trafficking in firearms and reduce and prevent armed violence.
UNLIREC will be returning to Suriname in September 2013 to conduct training on 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.
As the Regional Centre of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, UNLIREC serves 33 States 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 on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
May 24, 2013 | Uncategorized
UNLIREC, in collaboration with the Royal St. Vincent and Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), facilitated the destruction of 164 seized and obsolete weapons and over 37,000 rounds of small arms ammunition from 20 to 24 May 2013. All weapons and ammunition were destroyed and documented in accordance with UNLIREC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Eleven law enforcement officials were also trained by UNLIREC on firearms and ammunition destruction in order to guarantee permanent national capacities in this area.
All small arms were destroyed using a set of hydraulic shears donated by UNLIREC to the RSVGPF in 2012, while the small arms ammunition was burned using the UNLIREC-patented small arms ammunition burning tank (SAABT) delivered to the Caribbean island in 2013. Larger calibre ammunition and time-expired pyrotechnics were destroyed through an open detonation process following established UNLIREC SOPs based on the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
UNLIREC assistance to St. Vincent and the Grenadines forms part of a larger 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.
Prior to providing this assistance, UNLIREC undertook a detailed baseline assessment of the country’s capacity to destroy weapons and manage weapons and ammunition stockpiles, which served as a foundation for the formulation of the country’s national plan of action in this area. Forty international standard padlocks were also provided by UNLIREC to enhance levels of storage and security at key government stockpiles. The activities carried out were made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the United States of America.
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.
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).
