Mar 30, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues moving forward on the implementation of the project Strengthening the capacity for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector in Costa Rica, which began in September 2016, in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). This assistance package is possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.
During the months of March and April of 2017, UNLIREC has been supporting the Costa Rican government in the implementation of different activities aimed at strengthening arms control in the private security sector in the country. With the aim of making the achievements visible, the Government of Costa Rica convened a public event on April 3, 2017, in San José, where weapons were marked and destroyed in the presence of different national authorities and sectors of society.
UNLIREC has been advancing in the secondary marking of firearms owned by private security companies. This type of marking, made with laser technology, contributes to improving the inventory management of the companies’ weapons. In addition, secondary marking – a follow up marking at the time of the manufacture of the weapon – allows tracking the weapons, along with reconstructing their trajectory in time and space from its manufacture to its last legal owner, thus facilitating the traceability and criminal investigation process in the case of deviation. Between March and April, more than 500 firearms have been marked belonging to 10 security companies. Markings are expected to continue in the coming months with this initiative. While marking the firearms, Costa Rica continues to move forward in the fulfillment of the international agreements signed on the combat to the illicit traffic in small arms.
Additionally, UNLIREC accompanied the first destruction of weapons belonging to private security companies. Since 2016 security companies in the country are determining the need to carry and use firearms, depending on the locations where their services are rendered. Following the trend in the reduction of weapons, some companies are delivering the weapons that are no longer required to the national authorities for their destruction. During the first week of April, UNLIREC verified the destruction of 454 weapons of 17 different companies and certified that the process was carried out in accordance with international standards and good practices recognized in the matter. The destruction of weapons is one of the most effective measures to prevent unwanted weapons from entering illegal cycles and end up causing damage.
Finally, UNLIREC and DCAF held meetings with legal advisors from the Ministry of Public Security in which progress was made in the incorporation of international norms and standards in the processes of reforms to the private security law currently being developed in the country.
Since 2016, UNLIREC and DCAF have supported the Government of Costa Rica and the private security guild in the country to promote standards, best practices and initiatives of international recognition such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and The United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).
Through its assistance to the States of Latin America and the Caribbean, UNLIREC supports States in improving public security and in implementing the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Feb 23, 2017 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) facilitated a two-day training (23-24 February 2017) to representatives of private security companies in Guatemala through the Technical Workshop on International Standards for the Management of Arms and Ammunition Warehouses of Private Security Companies.
In order to minimize the risk of diversion to illegal channels, participants received training on physical security procedures in the weapons and ammunition storage facilities within the security companies. It is well known that stolen or lost weapons and ammunition from both state and private locations, represent a major source of crime-related weapons. These risks can be significantly reduced by implementing international standards and good practices that are recognized at the global level. Therefore, training those who are in charge of storing, controlling, transporting, and custody of firearms and ammunition, is a key step in arms control and armed violence prevention.
The UNLIREC-led workshop focused on topics, such as firearm and ammunition classification, safe storage and inventory management, risk assessment, safety plans, and incident reporting, among other topics.
This workshop forms part of the UNLIREC project entitled Strengthening Oversight and Building capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector, which is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main objectives of this project, implemented in partnership with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), is the promotion of standards, good practices and global recognition initiatives to strengthen good governance, and arms control in the private security sector.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening of public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Nov 21, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 21 to 24 November 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) advanced its project activities related to strengthening the oversight and building capacities for small arms Control and non-proliferation in the private security sector in Costa Rica.
The main objective of the mission was to improve the management of stockpiles of arms and ammunition for private security companies based on the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs). The implementation of these standards contributes to preventing weapons diversion.
During the mission, UNLIREC assessed the level of compliance of the ISACS and the IATGs in five Costa Rican security companies and made recommendations to adapt their stockpile management of arms and ammunition to comply with such standards.
Likewise, UNLIREC held meetings with government authorities to discuss the incorporation of the secondary marking of arms belonging to private security companies. Marking weapons is one of the most important measures in the arms control field, as it contributes to their traceability and record keeping. Upon request of the Government, UNLIREC will support the secondary marking process from a technical perspective within the current project framework.
This project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in collaboration with the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The goal of this project is to promote good governance within the private security sector and promote arms and ammunition control measures in line with international standards and good practices.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening of public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Nov 15, 2016 | Uncategorized
From 15 to 16 November 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out the second round of technical workshops to promote international standards for improved stockpile management of arms and ammunition among private security companies in the city of Lima, Peru. This training was carried out in collaboration with Peru’s National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC).
Thanks to the success of the first technical workshop carried out in 2015, various security companies requested additional trainings aimed at their operational staff responsible for stockpiles, control and custody of firearms and ammunition.
This workshop – resulting in the training of 14 representatives from security companies and SUCAMEC officials – promotes the incorporation of international standards and physical security procedures into daily operations. The standards relate to the facilities where the arms and ammunition are stored in order to introduce comprehensive measures to contribute to a reduction in the diversion of arms and ammunition.
The training workshop dealt with important issues, such as firearms and ammunition classification, stock management, risk assessment, security plans and incident reporting, among others. Throughout the sessions, practical exercises complemented the theoretical knowledge imparted by UNLIREC’s Public Security Programme.
This project activity was made possible thanks to the funding provided by the Federal Republic of Germany. The multi-year project aims to promote good governance and arms control within the private security sector and is being implemented in collaboration with the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening of public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Nov 4, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) has expanded its technical assistance to the Peruvian provinces of Chiclayo and Arequipa through its “Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector” project, which was launched in Peru in June 2015. Through this project, UNLIREC supports the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC) as the government body that controls and supervises private security, as well as the companies that provide services in this sector.
The activities that have been carried out through this project include training in small arms and ammunition inventory management for private security companies, technical assessments of private security companies aimed at providing technical recommendations on stockpile management and physical security measures, and secondary marking of firearms with laser technology. The project`s activities to date have focused on the city of Lima.
In order to ensure that this project has a decentralized impact in the country, UNLIREC expanded its technical assistance to the cities of Chiclayo and Arequipa. Consequently, during the week of 11 April 2016, UNLIREC`s technical team assessed the level of compliance of four private security companies in these two cities with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the United Nations International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). These voluntary assessments include technical recommendations in order to strengthen the level of compliance with the standards, to improve the security and the small arms and ammunition inventory management of these companies. Achieving high levels of compliance with these international standards helps prevent theft and diversion of firearms and ammunition belonging to the private security sector to illegal actors.
This project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) and United Nations small arms and ammunition control standards.
Through its assistance, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States strengthen public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
