Nov 19, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 12 to 16 November 2012, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) assisted the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic in the destruction of 1,400 surplus firearms and more than 300,000 rounds of small arms ammunition (approximately 8 tons). The destruction activities were conducted using UNLIREC´s Standard Operating Procedures, which are in accordance with the UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The destruction process included monitoring and verification by Dominican authorities and UNLIREC representatives. These initial destruction activities set the stage for a robust agenda of technical cooperation between UNLIREC and the Dominican Republic in 2013.
“The periodic destruction of weapons and ammunition constitutes one of the most effective means of ensuring that they do not make their way back onto the streets and/or are not diverted to criminal networks” said UNLIREC Senior Technical Officer Rodolfo Gamboa.
On this occasion the weapons were destroyed by smelting through a public-private partnership overseen by the Government of the Dominican Republic, in cooperation with UNLIREC. UNLIREC has also donated to the Government a small arms ammunition and pyrotechnics burning tan, which was used to destroy the 300,000 rounds of ammunition. UNLIREC will continue to work with the Ministry of the Armed Forces in early 2013 to destroy thousands more weapons and rounds of ammunition.
The technical assistance was made possible thanks to a grant from the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement. It forms part of a broader UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, which began in 2010, and is being carried out in thirteen CARICOM countries with the support of the United States and Canada. Since September 2010, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of the Dominican Republic in the development of a National Action Plan on Stockpile Management and Firearms Destruction, in securing of stockpile facilities through the provision of international standard padlocks and a set of hydraulic shears for the periodic destruction of weapons. UNLIREC has also assisted in training law enforcement officials to better combat illicit firearms trafficking and in providing recommendations on legal reforms and updates to the national firearms act. The latter aims to bring Dominican legislation in line with international agreements and reduce loopholes that can be exploited by illicit traffickers in firearms, ammunition and explosives.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org.)
Please direct all inquiries to: Ms. Carina Van Vliet, Political Affairs Officer (vanvliet@unlirec.org).
Oct 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 15–19 October 2012, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) assisted the Government of Belize in the destruction of 427 surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons from both the Defense and Police Force for a total of 1,329 weapons destroyed from May to September 2012. The periodic destruction of weapons and ammunition constitutes one of the most effective means of ensuring that they do not make their way back onto the streets and/or be diverted to criminal networks. The weapons destruction activity was conducted in accordance with UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS).
All weapons were cut using a set of hydraulic shears donated by UNLIREC to the Government of Belize in May 2012, which included the training of 6 members of the Belize Police Department (BPD) on its use and maintenance. The destruction process included monitoring and verification by Belizean authorities and UNLIREC representatives.
The technical assistance was made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement and forms part of a broader UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, which began in 2010, and has been carried out in nine CARICOM countries with the support of the United States and Canada. Since September 2010, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of Belize in the development of a National Action Plan on Stockpile Management and Firearms Destruction, securing of stockpile facilities through the provision of international standard padlocks, training of law enforcement officials in combating illicit firearms trafficking and providing recommendations on legal reforms and updates to the national firearms act. This latter assistance aims to bring national legislation in line with the international agreements and reduce loopholes that can be exploited by illicit traffickers in firearms, ammunition and explosives.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serves over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of 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)
Aug 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
On 13 August 2012, The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Security of the Republic of Argentina to provide technical assistance in the area of small arms, light weapons and ammunition stockpile management. This agreement is signed within the broader framework of the joint Ministry of Security/United Nations Development Programme project for Capacity Building for the Planning of Citizen Security Policies.
Efforts to build government officials’ stockpile management capacities and improve infrastructure of facilities where weapons, ammunition and explosives are stored are essential measures for preventing theft, loss and diversion as well as preventing accidents. UNLIREC assistance will entail undertaking collaborative stockpile management baseline assessments with officials from the Ministry of Security and federal security forces and developing action plans to ensure facilities and practices are in line with the draft UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). The cooperation between UNLIREC and the Ministry of Security began with an introductory workshop for national authorities in Buenos Aires on 13 August.
Since 2004, UNLIREC has provided stockpile management and destruction assistance to fourteen Latin American and Caribbean member states through assessment, capacity building and the provision of equipment resulting in the destruction of more than 475,000 surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons and 600,000 rounds of ammunition. The implementation of stockpile management and destruction measures are key commitments taken on by states within the framework of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
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].
Aug 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 8–12 October 2012, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs – through its Regional Disarmament Centre (UNLIREC) – assisted the Government of St. Lucia in the destruction of nearly 380 surplus, obsolete and confiscated firearms and close to 16,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. The periodic destruction of weapons and ammunition is the most effective means of ensuring that they do not make their way back onto the streets and/or be diverted to criminal networks. Both weapons and ammunition destruction were undertaken using the UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the UN International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
All 380 weapons were cut using a set of hydraulic shears donated by UNLIREC to the Government of St. Lucia in May 2012, which included the training of 10 members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) on its use and maintenance. The ammunition destruction took place at Vieux Fort using a field expedient disposal method. An additional 10 members of the RSLPF were also trained on the safe logistic destruction of ammunition according to the IATG. Both destruction processes included independent monitoring by UNLIREC personnel.
The destruction activities were made possible thanks to the support of the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement and form part of a broader UNLIREC Caribbean Assistance Programme, which began in 2010, and has been carried out in nine Caribbean countries with the support of the United States and Canada. Since June 2010, UNLIREC has assisted the Government of St. Lucia in the development of a National Action Plan on Stockpile Management and Firearms Destruction, securing stockpile facilities through the provision of international standard padlocks, and training of law enforcement officials in the fight against illicit firearms trafficking.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serves over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of 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)
Jul 16, 2012 | Uncategorized
From 24 – 29 June 2012 the United Nations Office for Disarmament’s Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) assisted the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GoTT) in the destruction of 1,131 surplus and obsolete small arms, including semi-automatic machine guns, pistols and revolvers. The weapons were destroyed at the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) Teteron Barracks using a combination of hydraulic shears and disc saws provided to the Government by UNLIREC. The destruction process included independent monitoring and verification undertaken by UNLIREC personnel.
A ceremonial destruction and closing ceremony took place on 29 June at the Teteron Barracks. During the ceremony, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Kenrick Maharaj; Heads of Divisions; and members of the diplomatic community were addressed by Lt Col. Darnley Wyke of the TTDF; Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Security, Dr Wendy Quamina-Yorke; and UNLIREC Senior Programme Officer, Ms Juliet Solomon.
The destruction activities are made possible with the financial support of the US Department of State´s Office for Weapons Removal and Abatement. These activities form part of UNLIREC´s Caribbean Assistance Programme, launched in Kingston, Jamaica in April 2010, and carried out in eight Caribbean countries with the financial support of Canada and the USA. Since October 2011, UNLIREC has assisted the GoTT in the destruction of 2,286 surplus, obsolete and confiscated small arms, more than five tonnes of small arms ammunition and has provided equipment and training in order to guarantee permanent national capacity for weapons and ammunition destruction.
The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Regional Disarmament Centres, which includes UNLIREC, serve over 135 countries worldwide and assists them in the implementation of arms control and disarmament programmes, such as the implementation of the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
The destruction of firearms and ammunition in cooperation with the GoTT is part of joint efforts to combat illicit trafficking in firearms, strengthen the capacity of the country’s security forces and reduce armed violence throughout the country.
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].
