UNLIREC shares good practices on arms control within the private security sector in Costa Rica
News article to be posted on Monday, 10 October 2016.
UNLIREC launches project to strengthen arms and ammunition control among private security sector in Costa Rica
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), launched its project aimed to strengthen capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition within the private security sector (PSS). The launch of this project took place on 21 of September in San Jose during an executive seminar on good practices and international standards in the PSS upon request from the government of Costa Rica. Several private security companies operating in Costa Rica, and representatives of national agencies, in charge of the control and regulation of this sector, participated in the event.
The PSS in Latin America has expanded and become more professional over the last years, providing services that include security and protection with small arms. The growth in this sector caused an increase in the legal demand of small arms and ammunition. The State institutions using arms, as well as the private security companies and their agents are vulnerable to considerable insecurity (robberies, attacks) and corruption (illegal sales and unlawful use of arms) that can cause diversion of arms into illegality, and their potential use in violent and criminal actions with serious impacts on citizen security.
The UNLIREC project, in collaboration with DCAF, helps to reduce these risks through the promotion of arms control measures between the national authorities responsible for the control and audit of the sector, and the private security companies. Likewise, the assistance provides support to the authorities in order to review and strengthen good governance in the sector by promoting regulatory initiatives. The technical assistance that UNLIREC and DCAF offer as part of this project,is based on international standards, good practices, and globally recognized initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers (ICoC), the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). With the launch of this project, the PSS of Costa Rica and the governmental authorities that regulate and supervise it, can benefit from a series of activities aimed at strengthening capacities throughout this sector through technical support.
This project is possible due to the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany. Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in strengthening 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).
UNLIREC contributes to strengthening private security sector in El Salvador
From 7 to 11 November 2016, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out a mission in El Salvador to advance towards the implementation of the activities that form part of the project entitled: Strengthening Oversight and Building capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector.
Since July 2015, UNLIREC, in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), provides technical assistance to the governmental authorities and to the private security sector in El Salvador to promote the regulation and arms control of the private security sector.
During the mission, UNLIREC and DCAF held meetings with various national authorities about the legal-technical support that the project can offer to reform processes to the private security Law. Furthermore, DCAF presented the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoCA) to several private security companies in order to share the scope and benefits of this initiative. The ICoCA compiles internationally recognized standards and good practices to ensure the good management and governance of the private security companies that voluntarily adhere to the Code.
Likewise, during its visit to El Salvador, UNLIREC team diagnosed the level of compliance of the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs) in several security companies. Recommendations were made to increase the level of compliance through these guidelines aimed at improving the security of companies to prevent theft, as well as the diversion of weapons and ammunition to illegal actors.
Finally, UNLIREC carried out a two-day technical workshop on international standards for weapons and ammunition stockpile management. This is the second workshop that UNLIREC carries out in this country, addressed to operational staff of the companies providing security services. Participants received a training aimed to incorporate the physical security procedures in their weapons and ammunition stockpiles to minimize risks of weapons diversion into illegality.
This project is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. Through this assistance, UNLIREC supports Latin America and Caribbean States in 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).
UNLIREC donates bullet trap to private security entities operating in Peru to improve physical security of firearms and ammunition depots
The United Nation Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) donated a series of bullet-traps to private security companies in Peru as part of its project entitled: Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector. The official handover took place on 26 May 2016 on the grounds of at the National Regulatory Entity for Security Service, Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC).
The handover ceremony of bullet traps was attended by the companies that provide security services and that have participated in the project since it began in June 2015. The project’s main goal is to promote international standards and best practices in the control of arms and ammunition of private security companies, and to contribute to preventing mismanagement, theft or firearms accidents. The standards promoted are the UN International Small ArmsControl Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).
The bullet traps are devices that all depots must have as a preventive security measure, according to the international standards on small arms and ammunition control. Whenever firearms are received or handed over at the depots, the staff must ensure that the arms have been made safe, in other words, without ammunition inside them. This is known as dry firingand must be performed inside a bullet-trap, which consists of a metallic cylinder containing sand. The barrel of the arm is placed inside the cylinder to make the dry fire. In the case of an involuntary shot, the bullet is absorbed by the cylinder, which slows the bullet down and prevents ricocheting towards the shooter, thus avoiding fatal consequences due to an involuntary shot.
As part of this assistance, the private security companies received hazardous material warning stickers to be placed in the weapons and ammunition depots. These stickers were designed according to the UN Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.
This project, which provides technical assistance to both SUCAMEC as a control and regulatory agency in charge of private security services in Peru, is implemented by UNLIREC in collaboration with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) with the economic support of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in strengthening public security and 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 on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).
UNLIREC and Government of El Salvador complete final phase of small arms control assistance aimed at private security companies operating in El Salvador
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Government of El Salvador carried out several activities in April, aimed at concluding the first phase of the project, entitled:Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector, which they have been implementing in the country since July 2015.
During the month of April 2016, the secondary marking of small arms belonging to private security companies that participate in the project continued. Since 2013, the government of El Salvador has a regulation on secondary marking – – taking place after the initial marking phase, which occurs at the time of manufacture– – in line with international agreements on combating the illicit trafficking of small arms signed by the government. The secondary marking helps to track firearms until they reach their final legal user and improve the weapons inventory management of the companies. During the first phase of the project, UNLIREC has facilitated the marking of more than 500 firearms belonging to thirteen security companies.
Furthermore, UNLIREC and the government of El Salvador carried out an event that recounted the results obtained during the first phase of the project. Among the results the training on firearms and ammunition warehouses management of more than 20 private security companies, and the technical advice on stockpile management and physical security measures of five companies stand out. All of these activities are in line with the UN International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG).
During this event, UNLIREC distributed material for the weapons rooms of all private security companies involved in the project. UNLIREC donated devices commonly known as bullet-traps, which consist of metallic cylinders where individuals receiving or handing over weapons can ensure that the firearms has been made safe by placing it inside the bullet trap which absorbs and contains an errant round of ammunition. . In addition, the companies received warning stickers of dangerous materials according to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN Orange Book). These stickers must be placed in the vicinity where ammunition is stored.
This project, which provides technical assistance to both the national authorities in charge of regulating the private security sector nationwide, and the companies that provide security services, is implemented in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) with the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany. The project`s main goal is to promote small arms and ammunition control standards, good practices and initiatives of global recognition, and good governance in the private security sector.
Through this assistance package, 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 on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). Please direct all questions or inquiries to Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).