Apr 22, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 22 to 26 April 2013, UNLIREC, in close collaboration with the Police and Defence Force of Antigua and Barbuda, supported the destruction of close to 400 seized and obsolete weapons and one tonne of small arms ammunition and time-expired CS gas. All weapons and ammunition destroyed were documented in accordance with UNLIREC’s standard operating procedures. UNLIREC also provided training on firearms and ammunition destruction techniques to fourteen law enforcement officials with a view to permanently installing technical and human resource capacity to engage in independent destructions.
All small arms were destroyed using a set of hydraulic shears provided by UNLIREC to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, while the ammunition was burned using the UNLIREC-patented Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank (SAABT).
All UNLIREC destruction assistance to Antigua and Barbuda 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.
UNLIREC also undertook a baseline assessment of the country’s capacity to destroy weapons and manage stockpiles, which served as an essential step towards the formulation of the country’s national plan of action in this area. Forty international standard padlocks were also provided by UNLIREC – under the umbrella of the same Caribbean Assistance Package – 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 and Light Weapons.
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).
Apr 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
In Buenos Aires, from 4 to 15 of November, 2013, the Ministry of Security of Argentina and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latina America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) progressed on their technical cooperation to update arms control practices and policies.
During this event, UNLIREC assessed the four federal security forces on firearms and ammunition management. This assessment is based on International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and it aims to improve stockpile infrastructures, strengthen staff capacity, and enhance stockpile management practices within the federal forces. In addition, different weapons and ammunition marking proposals and techniques were analyzed and discussed.
The current year, UNLIREC conducted assessments in several stockpile facilities and gave recommendations to improve infrastructures, standard operating procedures and training processes. During next year, besides working on these areas, UNLIREC will provide assistance in a destruction process for obsolete firearms. Additionally, the scope of activities will be extended to reach different areas of the country. The collaboration, ongoing since 2012, falls within the framework of the citizen security project led by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Argentina.
In 2013, UNLIREC provided assistance in stockpile management and weapons and ammunition destruction to 17 Member States in the region providing equipment and training, and conducting evaluations. More than 50 tons of ammunition and almost 45.000 firearms were destroyed, including surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons, and more than 130 stockpile facilities were improved. Implementing firearms destructions and stockpile management standards is one of the main commitments assumed by the States within the framework of the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Armas and Light Weapons.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). For enquiries, please contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
Apr 3, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 4 – 22 February 2013, technical specialists from the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) joined forces with the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic (MAF-DR) to destroy over 10,000 surplus and obsolete small arms and more than 20 tonnes of surplus and obsolete small arms and light weapons ammunition. These achievements represent another important benchmark 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 United States Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement.
All weapons were destroyed using hydraulic shears and disc saws donated by UNLIREC to the MAF-DR and in accordance with a set of UNLIREC standard operating procedures based on the UN International Small Arms Control Standards. Small arms ammunition was destroyed with an ammunition burning tank designed by UNLIREC and donated to the MAF-DR. Light Weapons ammunition was destroyed via open burning/open detonation operations at the Sierra Prieta demolition camp in accordance with the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
To date, as part of the joint implementation of the National Action Plan, UNLIREC and the MAF-DR have destroyed almost 12,000 weapons, disposed of over 41 tonnes of small arms and light weapons ammunition, enhanced the security of 40 weapons and ammunition stockpile facilities and trained 56 officials in stockpile management and destruction standards and operations. UNLIREC and MAF-DR plan to destroy an additional 20,000 surplus and obsolete military and police weapons before the National Action Plan is complete.
Sound stockpile management, including the regular destruction of surplus and obsolete weapons and ammunition, is a key measure in efforts to combat illicit small arms trafficking under the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms. UNLIREC, the regional arm of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, is based in Lima, Peru and provides technical assistance to the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
For more information on UNLIREC visit [www.unlirec.org]. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer [cowl@unlirec.org].
Feb 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 25 February to 8 March 2013, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) – in close collaboration with the Government of Belize – conducted a 10-day training course to combat illicit firearms trafficking for Belizean security and justice sector officials.
The Inter-Institutional Training Course on Combating the Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives (IITC), the first of its kind in Belize, was held at the Police Academy in Belmopan and resulted in the training of more than 40 law enforcement officers and justice operators. Course participants bolstered their ability to carry out interactive firearms investigative techniques in keeping with international standards and best practices. Participants received specialized training in the following areas: technical aspects of weapons and ammunition identification, intelligence gathering and crime scene management, tracing and preparation of evidence in criminal proceedings, as well as practical disarmament measures, such as weapons destruction and stockpile management. The course also covered cross-cutting issues related to the use of force, gender awareness and child protection.
Since 2004, UNLIREC has trained over 3,500 law enforcement officers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening the capacities of States in the region to address the problem of the proliferation of and trafficking in firearms and ammunition.
On this occasion, UNLIREC also provided technical assistance to the Government of Belize for the destruction of more than 15,000 rounds of surplus small arms ammunition from 7-8 March 2013. The destruction of ammunition was carried out in collaboration with the Belizean Defence and Police Forces using UNLIREC’s patented SAABT (Small Arms Ammunition Burning Tank). In 2012, UNLIREC joined forces with the Belize Police and Defence Force in destroying more than 1,300 obsolete and seized firearms. All of the destruction activities contribute to reducing the risk of both diversion and unplanned explosions at munitions sites.
These activities, aimed at strengthening the capacity of the security forces and reducing armed violence in Belize and the region, form part of UNLIREC’s Firearms Assistance Package for Caribbean States. The activities carried out in Belize 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].
Feb 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
From 18 – 22 February 2013 the United Nations Office for Disarmament’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) conducted a national firearms baseline assessment mission in Suriname. This mission is the initial segment of technical cooperation between UNLIREC and Suriname.
UNLIREC Experts were in Paramaribo at the request of the Government of Suriname as the first step in UNLIREC assistance to this country under Phase II of its Caribbean Firearms Stockpile Management and Destruction Assistance Package, made possible with the financial support of the US Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.
UNLIREC´s Caribbean Assistance Package was launched in April 2010 and offers assistance and support to fourteen Caribbean countries. While in Suriname, the UNLIREC Team met with senior government officials including the Ministers of Defence, Justice and Police, and Finance; the Director of the National Security Agency; the Prosecutor General; the Commander of the Suriname Armed Forces; and the Commander of the Suriname Police Force. The Team also made site visits to weapons and ammunition stockpile facilities.
The Team will submit a baseline assessment report and a draft National Action Plan (NAP) to the Government of Suriname by the end of March 2013. The draft NAP will make 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 an Inter-Institutional Training Course on Combating Illicit Firearms Trafficking (IITC) and Surinamese 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 Suriname and the region.
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 further information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). For inquiries please contact: Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer: cowl@unlirec.org
